Week 15: Living in Communion with God

This week, the Bible reading plan is as follows:

*Sunday: Deuteronomy 32:28-52; Luke 12:35-59; Psalm 78:56-64; Proverbs 12:24
*Monday: Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Luke 13:1-21; Psalm 78:65-72; Proverbs 12:25;
*Tuesday: Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24; Luke 13:22-14:6; Psalm 79:1-13; Proverbs 12:26
*Wednesday: Joshua 3:1-4:24; Luke 14:7-35; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 12:27-28
*Thursday: Joshua 5:1-7:15; Luke 15:1-32; Psalm 81:1-16; Proverbs 13:1
*Friday: Joshua 7:16-9:2; Luke 16:1-18; Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 13:2-3
*Saturday: Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4

Scripture: Luke 12:35-46
"'Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
'Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.'
"Peter asked, 'Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?'
"And the Lord replied, 'A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, "My master won't be back for a while," and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.'"

Observation:
Jesus admonishes his followers to be ready for his return. There will be a day, at a time we least expect, when Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead. He will call his servants to account. Those who are ready will receive a reward. In fact, Jesus himself will don an apron and serve us at table. The servants who are unprepared, and who squander their stewardship, will be severely punished.

Application:
I have been given much...and much is expected. In a sense, my work carries me. I have many things that keep me busy throughout the day. I don't necessarily have to be a self-starter because there are so many obligations that push me to keep going in active service to the Master. Still, I want to do more. I want to be more. I fear that I am not spending my life making the best use of my talents, but I am either too afraid or too lazy to venture out and discover what that missing piece is. Am I supposed to exercise better time management?

When I work, I get things done...and when I am off of work, I enjoy relaxing. Whether I am at work, at play, or at rest, I am thankful for God's blessings. If Jesus ever asks me if I enjoyed my life, I would say that I have...and would not feel the need to include any qualifying comments (e.g., "I did except when I didn't"). I consider my life a precious and sacred gift.

One thing that bothers me is that I believe God has given me the ability to do more than I actually do, but what I'm not sure of is whether God expects or requires me to do more as a result. Is it enough to enjoy God and savor God's love and presence...or are there sacred duties to which I am derelict in attending?

As I sit with this thought, a certain peace settles upon me. I sense God saying, "Do what you do with all your heart. Attend to me in all your activities. Let us be together in every moment, and together we will make the best use of the time you have left here." There are a thousand things I could do, but I cannot do a thousand things. I can do only one thing at a time. And it is only that one thing that matters at that time. It occurs to me that God does not have a do-list for me to complete. He has a life for me to live...in communion with him.

Prayer:
Lord, I can never say, "My master won't return for a long time," because you have never left. You are with me always. You abide in me and I abide in you. We are inseparable. I want to attend to you always, every waking moment, so that I can attend as well to the opportunities to be a faithful servant in real time. Lord Jesus, I wonder if you ever got the feeling that you weren't making the best use of your time. If so, was that a temptation? Perhaps so. It would be the temptation to worry about what you were not doing instead of communing with the Father amid what you were doing. I pray that at the end of my life when I come into your glorious presence, you will embrace me as a faithful servant. Please let it be so, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck