Thursday, February 26
Author: Jay Thompson, English Pastor, San Jose Canaan Christian Church, San Jose
33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back — whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”(Mark 13:33-37, NIV)
We are like slaves of the master, each with a job to do, commanded not only to stay awake but stay alert. Ever been a slave? Can you identify with this illustration? Ok, let’s modernize. It’s like a radio station sweepstakes. You could win a year off from work, travel to the destination of your choice, all expenses paid, and even have someone to cover all your needs. All you have to do is answer an incoming text message within thirty seconds of receiving it. Would you be ready? Of course you would because you understand the immensity of the situation. What is Jesus talking about? He is pretty serious about his subject. Is anyone listening? We are in an age of testing. The end of this age is coming. When the end comes, there will be a judgment, an accounting. There will be an accounting of what was done in the testing phase.
What job has Jesus given you to do? If you don’t know, it is time to find out. As Christians we are his slaves; we are his agents in this world. Our job is to continue Jesus’ work, sharing his “Good News” with everyone; offering his salvation and healing to the world. Yeah, it can be intimidating. Some people won’t get it. Some people will reject you along with the message. They rejected Jesus too. They crucified him. Fortunately for us, Jesus didn’t fall asleep. If the task was easy it wouldn’t be much of a test, would it? You might not need to learn trust. You might not need to bother seeking the master. You might begin to think you don’t need the master. You might begin to think that you are the master.
Are you on the job and alert?
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The ISAAC 2009 Lenten Devotional, edited by Rev. Dr. Johnson Chiu. This devotional was written by Asian American English ministry leaders and pastors in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. To purchase, click here: Road of Suffering, Road to Glory: A Lenten Adventure with the Savior
