Water for the Thirsty
Weekly Devotional

Do you remember playing hide-n-seek as a child? Mum or dad would count up to 20 while you went to hide, and when they had finished counting they would shout out ‘Ready or Not… Here I come’.

Well in God’s perfect timing Jesus is going to come again and He’ll say to everyone ‘Ready or Not… Here I come’ The question is, ‘are you ready or not’? Many throughout history have tried to set the date of Jesus’ return; the trouble is they’ve all been wrong. I don’t know when he is coming…I can’t give you a date, but one thing’s for sure, ‘ready or not He’s going to come.

The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,‘Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled’.

If Christ were to come right now are you ready? Are you sure? Are you putting off today what you hope you can do tomorrow? Are you sure there will be a tomorrow? Are you so engrossed with your life that you can’t hear Jesus calling? Hebrews 3:7-8 says, ‘So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…’

Years ago, when 20th Century Fox advertised in the New York papers to fill a vacancy in its sales force, one applicant replied: “I am presently selling furniture at the address below. You may judge my ability as a salesmen if you will stop in to see me anytime, pretending that you are interested in buying furniture. When you come in, you can identify me by my red hair. And I will have no way of identifying you. Such salesmanship as I exhibit during your visit shall be no more than my usual workday approach and not special effort to impress a perspective employer”. From among the 1500 applicants that they received, that guy got the job.

When Jesus comes will He find you ready? Will He find you living for Him? If He were to come right now are you prepared to meet God?

If you have never placed you faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, that would be the place to start. When you become a Christian you receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. He gives you a new nature and you will begin to draw from that well that never runs dry and that will never leave you in thirst or doubt. If you have already placed your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then have you been daily seeking to freshen and deepen that relationship? Are you growing in your faith? Remember there is no neutral ground. You are either going forward or backward.

How is your prayer life? Are you daily getting refreshed by prayer, studying Gods Word, and fellowshipping with other Christians? How is you walk with the Lord? Are you daily growing deeper and more in Love with Him? If you knew that tomorrow was your last day on earth, how would you live differently?

Here are some questions to reflect on:

• If you knew that today is your last day on earth, would you confess hidden sins that you thought you got away with?
• If you know that today is you last day on earth, would you still hold a grudge against your brother or sister, or neighbour, or church member?
• If you know that today is you last day on earth, would you finally follow through in committing your life 100% to God’s and quit being a part time Christian?
• If you knew that today is your last day on earth, would you not follow through with the commandment to be a baptized member in the body of Christ?
• If you knew that today is your last day on earth, would you not heal a relationship with someone you are angry with or someone you hurt?
• If you knew that today is your last day on earth, would you not spend a little more time talking with your children and your grandchildren about Jesus?
• If you knew that today is your last day on earth, would you not spend a little more time talking with God in prayer?
• If you knew that today is your last day on earth, would you not tell your neighbour or your colleague at work or a friend about the saving grace of Jesus Christ?
• If you knew that right now would be your last chance to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, would you do it or take your chances that there will be another chance?

Revelation 16:15 says, "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."

Do you anticipate His return and are you ready? If you knew that today is your last day on this earth what would you do with this call from Revelation 22:17? ‘The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life’.

Please don’t turn Jesus away, after all at some point the Lord will finish his count and say, ‘Ready or not … Here I come’.

Have a good week living for Jesus.

Pastor Barry

29^th November 2009

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