Luke 12:32–40

Be Still: Father help me as I read your Word. By your Spirit, I want to become more like Jesus today. Amen.

 Read: Luke 12:32–40

 Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning…(v35)

Encounter: I love sleep and I find it difficult to stay awake at the best of times. I fall asleep when I’m reading, which made my recent course in theology a very restful two years with all those books! 

There is a sobering call in this passage to stay alert, to keep the lamps burning, to be ready for and busy in service, as we wait for the Master to return. We know from other passages, for instance in the Garden of Gethsemane, that the disciples were found asleep on the job. They were sleeping through their assignment to keep watch. 

The early hearers of this story about staying watchful, would have picked up the reference to Exodus and the people of Israel being ready to follow the flame of God’s presence through the desert, uncertain of the destination. For us, we don’t know when Jesus will come back, so let’s not be found to be asleep when he does. Keep the flame of worship and prayer burning in your life and in your church. The encouragement is to persevere in prayer, to not give up meeting together to worship Jesus and to keep serving Jesus and the body of Christ faithfully.  

 Apply: Jesus is calling us today to watch and pray. We really do need awakening in our time. Decide to be a 'thermostat' in your church for worship and prayer, rather than a 'thermometer'. A thermostat sets the temperature, whereas a thermometer just takes it. Choose to keep the lamp burning. And stay faithful in all the un-seen service.

Devote: Lord I want to watch for you today. Help me play my part in keeping the flame of worship and prayer burning. I pray for awakening in this nation, that people might be stirred to seek you. When one day you return, find me dressed, ready for service.