Ready? Ready for what?
Recently I wrote about expectations. Building on that, lets look at what it looks like to be ready for the what ever comes our way. Reading Matthew 24 got me thinking about this. it is the gospel chapter that describes the signs for the return of Jesus. Chapter 25 continues by warning us to always be ready.
For thousands of years people have waited for the return of Jesus. Many have even expected it eminently at various times, yet it has not happened. But whose to say it won’t at any time? “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” 24:36 We do not know when it will be, but we are told it will be unexpected. “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” 24:44
Since we do not know when, we need to be ready all the times. What does that look like to be ready? Chapter 25 mentions: not being foolish, using what we have been given wisely, taking care of strangers, feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the needy and caring for those who are sick and those in prison.
These are all good and necessary, but I don’t think they are here to give us a check list for readiness. This list is important, but our attitude is what is most important. If we are lazy or angry and competing to carry out this list, then we are hypocrites. (I am not excluding myself here!)
Personally, I think I have found the toughest test of readiness: Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Unforgiveness does little or nothing to the person we are not forgiving, but it holds us hostage to our anger. In time it can cloud our emotions and can even make us physically ill. It also qualifies us as hypocrites.
Forgiveness is both a moment in time when we agree with God that we will no longer hold an offense. It is also a process of letting go of offenses over time since we tend to not be very good at forgiving and forgetting. We learn to hand them to the Father, knowing Jesus has paid the price.
People offend us constantly. I don’t say that because I am hypersensitive. I say that because our culture has become more abrasive. It feels like public discourse is rarely civil discourse anymore. How do we as followers of Jesus be kind and forgiving when there is so much discord? It can only happen through the power of the Hold Spirit.
We quiet our spirits with praise of our Creator. When we worship in Spirit and in truth, unforgiveness and anger fall away because God inhabits the praises of his people and the enemy of our souls cannot stay in the presence of the Holy One. We are also cut free from hypocrisy. We are ready at any moment for the return of our Lord and for any other unexpected events.
Abba, In this season of Lent, show us where we harbor any unforgiveness in our hearts. Grant us the grace to let go, even if it feels more a part of us, than an offense to You. I am grateful that You do not accuse us, but instead You invite us to give these to you…forever. Thank You that Jesus on the cross is the only thing that makes forgiveness truly possible and at the same time, complete. May we all experience new levels of freedom, grace and readiness to deal with our culture and the unexpected. Amen
