Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.

I was afraid so I said nothing, and you thought I agreed with you…

I was afraid so I did not step in and stop what was happening so everybody thought I agreed with what they wanted…

How many times have you done something because you were afraid of how people would react to you stepping up, or saying you disagree?  How many times have you gone along with the crowd because it was easier than speaking up for those who needed your help?  How many times have you set aside your convictions because the group wanted to do something you know is wrong?

Your mother always said, “if they jumped off a bridge would you jump off one too?”  Of course you wouldn’t, but not saying what you know is right, or living your own convictions is also a way that you jump off the bridge.  You are killing yourself by not being who God created you to be.

The slave here stood up to his master, and did not make him any more money in a society where in order for one to get more money someone else had to lose money.  The slave did not harm society by doing what he knew was wrong.

Never do something out of fear! God gives us a spirit of power and love to boldly be his light in the world.

Daddy, help me to not be afraid to stand and be who you created me to be. A one of a kind creation to shine forth your light. Help me to always remember I am your child, and you give me strength. Amen.

I remember this from the days I was a Boy Scout. Be prepared is the Boy Scout motto.

The Scout Motto is: BE PREPARED which means you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your DUTY.

• Be Prepared in Mind by having disciplined yourself to be obedient to every order, and also by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that might occur, so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment, and are willing to do it.
• Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment, and do it. (taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_Motto)

This is exactly how we are to be as followers of Christ, prepared! At any moment to do anything necessary for the King.  We have to be ready for all situations and know what could happen and have worked out ahead of time what we might do.

The only difference here is that in the moment when we are in need, the Holy Spirit will be with us as always, and the spirit will intercede to God the Father for us, and bring the aid we need. He will give us the words to speak. So our preparation and working out of every situation is knowing Christ and Him crucified and what that means for us.  A relationship into which we live daily, and work into and through. Spending time reading our Bibles and praying, to be better connected with God, and therefore always prepared!

Daddy God, help me to be immersed in you so that when trouble arises I will not need to worry about how I will react, but will be given by You the thing to do or say. So move into and through my life that others are drawn to you. Amen.

When you are hired for a job do you watch for when the boss is looking and then make it look like you are working? Do you work harder or more diligently when the boss is looking, or when others can see you?  When you are alone do you surf the web and do personal stuff and not do your work? Do you miss treat those under you and have them do your work, so that you get credit?

We can not get and keep a job by merely working when the boss or those over us are watching us. We can not miss treat others because the boss or those over us are not around.

Jesus is always watching and therefore we can not get away from Him, nor should we want to.  He is always watching us, and expects us to always be acting in a way that shows him to those around us.  He wants us to be busy showing forth His love and doing His will so that all can come to a relationship with the father.

Be about the work of the father treating everyone as God has treated you. Excepting them warts and all, loving them and working with them to bring forth His kingdom.

Daddy God, guide me to be your worker and to do your will. To not seek my own desires or wants, but to work your mission and vision so that all will come to know you and live with you. Amen.

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

Have you ever had a guest coming and you did not know when they would arrive?  You make sure the room is ready and that you have stuff available to make a meal, you can’t cook anything because you wouldn’t want it to get cold waiting for the person to arrive, so you plan ahead and have food available for preparation and you make sure it is something easy and yet also good.

But while you wait for this guest to arrive, your life as you know it is put on hold.  You are waiting for them and therefore not living your life or going about your business.  You are waiting on them.  If you knew when they were going to arrive you could do what you need to and then also be ready, but since you don’t know you must wait. Have all preparations ready and wait.  Like the homeowner who would stop the thief if they knew when they would be robbed, but we don’t know.

But Christ does not tell us to stop our lives while we wait. He wants us to live in a way that we are always expecting him to return. Live in a way that when he comes back and finds us doing what ever it is we are doing that he would not be put off or upset by what we are doing.  But what we are doing shows forth his love .

So live in a way that Christ is shown through and in your life and actions.

Loving Daddy, help me to be prepared for you to come and visit me, by living in a way that helps others to see you and also start their own preparations for your coming. Amen.

Advent is the season of Hope…

As I read the gospel passage for the day, I really have a hard time seeing or hearing the hope. I see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place and think it is time to flee.  Let’s hope that it is not winter (uh oh!) and that it is not the Sabbath (we’re good on this one), so we can try to get away… However will we be able to get away?

As the gospel says “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”  So be careful to not be caught with the corpses, so the vultures get you.  But who will be able to escape, to get away from the destruction and desolateness of that day?

“Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.” When all of this happens the sun will not shine and there will be no light as the moon is no longer reflecting, and the stars have fallen from heaven, the night sky is a black sheet, and all of the heavens are shaken up…

But yet there is hope!!!

“And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” His elect, His people, He will call by the trumpet of the angels from the ends of heaven and earth together. That is the hope that we are the elect, and will be called at the trumpet blast to join our savior and to overcome the darkness and evil that will be surrounding us.

Gracious Saving Lord, help us to remember that we are your children, and even in the darkest hour, you are with us. Amen.

And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

Good news?!?!

We will have to endure all kinds of hardship and being turned over to the authorities and questioned and reviled because of Jesus.  We will be hated and put to death because of our beliefs.

Where is God our refuge? Where is the shelter from the storm?  Why must we endure these things and go through all of this turmoil? Is not God in control? Can He not do whatever he wants and save us, protect us from all harm?

Yes he could, but endurance of these things shows hope in the promise.  God never said it would be easy, or a cakewalk. He promised that no matter where His children went or what happened to them, that He would be with them.

So know now as we await the coming of our savior in the manger, that He is with you, as He promised he would be. And live in the hope that this season brings.

Daddy God, guide us in this season and all of our lives to follow you and cling to the promise of the hope that you give us through the faithfulness of Jesus to follow through and go to the cross, so that we might be made right with you. Amen.