Are You Ready?

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Luke 2:8-10 NKJV

The most-asked question the last few days, "Are you ready for Christmas?" I want to answer that question with one of my own, "Are you ready for Christ's return?" 

A few years back, I read Twas the Night Before Jesus Came, a pastiche of Twas the Night Before Christmas. It was a sad state of affairs detailing the lack of prayer and care regarding Christ's return. It can be found here: https://bible.org/illustration/twas-night-jesus-came-0 . It was quite sobering. 

I think oftentimes we get caught up in the holiday and all the honey-do lists and gifts, etc, and forget why we celebrate and what we should be looking for.  That's very dangerous. Matthew 24:44 NIV tells us, So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  Are you ready?

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for sending Your Son to a lost and dying world so that we - through Him - might be saved, healed, set free, discipled, equipped, empowered, and serving others. Help us, O God, to walk accordingly.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen