But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
We are called to make ourselves ready for the coming of the king. Our natural tendency will be toward drowsiness. The anxieties of daily life usually do seem more pressing than the coming of the LORD. But if we do not keep the LORD first in our minds and hearts we will not only not be ready to meet him when he comes but we also won't handle our daily responsibilities as well as we should.
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all,
just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
When the LORD is first in our lives he makes our love increase and abound for one another and for all. He strengthens our hearts even to the point of blameless holiness before God. This is the posture of readiness that the LORD asks of us. This is the grace he offers to us this morning. Love, in this world, is readiness. It is constantly listening to the voice of the savior and watching for his appearance. It is ready, at the drop of a hat, to do whatever might bring him glory. Love without readiness is self-deception to the degree that it refuses to move.
In order that we might get ready and stay ready the LORD longs to enkindle a fire of hope in our hearts for his coming. Our readiness will be met by good things beyond our imagining. Even if to remain ready seems difficult, he himself provides both the grace to do so, and the infinitely disproportionate fulfillment at his coming.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”
When have we ever been truly safe or secure in the way the LORD means? Have we ever truly rested in absolute trust in God? He calls us to be on the watch. He who is called Prince of Peace is coming to lead us beyond our fears.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
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