"Be
dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for
their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks
they can immediately open the door for him."
(Luke
12:35-36 NIV)
Tasha was the most faithful of dogs. I could always
trust her to be alert, night or day, to my needs and commands. In fact
throughout the thirteen years we dwelt together I have no recollections of her
ever being disobedient or inattentive to my call. Truly, Tasha had the heart of
a watchful and faithful servant in whom I had no problem placing my trust.
Today's Scripture speaks about servanthood and the
importance of always being ready for the return of the master. It also points us
to the importance of trust. To be ready the servant must trust that the master
will return. The master in turn, is trusting that the servant will be prepared
for his arrival whenever that may be. Trust between servant and master is of the
utmost importance, as both parties need to be able to count on one another for
the relationship to work as it should.
Through my own Christian experience I have learned
something about God, who represents the master in these verses. God is
trustworthy! He can always be counted on to do as he says he will do. He never
lets his end of our relationship falter or fail.
On the other hand however, as the servant, I must ask
myself, just as you must ask yourself as a Christian, how trustworthy am I ? Can
God count on me to be attentive to his will and way? Is my goal to be obedient
to his word? Am I willing to accept him for who he is, rather than who I want
him to be?
Tasha, my faithful canine friend truly had the heart
of a watchful and faithful servant in whom I had no problem placing my trust. My
hope today, for us as God's servants, is that our Father and Master in heaven,
may also have cause to think likewise about us.
Prayer: Father God thank you that you are completely
trustworthy. Thank you also that in Christ we too have the power to be watchful
and faithful servants in your house. Bless us this day with the desire to be
dressed and ready for service as you come knocking on the door of our hearts to
do your good and perfect will. In the wonderful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Lynne Phipps Atlin, BC
lynnephipps@hotmail.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.