Work, Watch, and Wait

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

WORK, WATCH AND WAIT

Luke 12:41-46

41 Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?" 42 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

NIV

Jesus is telling Peter another way of saying what he already said about being ready for Jesus to return. It would be a little strange for Peter to get that since Jesus is right there talking with him, and we are reading this some two thousand or so years later and Jesus, who did ascend back to heaven in the presence of Peter, has not yet returned for us. However, now Jesus is talking about the calling that he has put on our lives. Of course, he has done that through the Spirit who dwells within us and prompts us to do what we have been called to do. Nevertheless, each of us has a part within the body of Christ. No one can say that God has not given them a task to do. However, because Jesus is responding to Peter, who became one of the leaders of the early church, and Jesus is talking about the faithful and wise manager, we would have to believe this is more directed to those who have been called to be shepherds of God’s people, pastors, teachers, prophets, evangelists and apostles, who are the gifts to the church. However, at the same time, all of God’s people should pay close attention to not get lazy in their faith and faithfulness, because we have not yet seen the return of Jesus. We think this would be especially directed at us older believers who have almost spent a lifetime waiting for Jesus to return for us before we take our last breath. Many in the past have already gone beyond, leaving their bodies in the grave without seeing Jesus coming in the Eastern sky, calling them to the resurrection. Our task, therefore, is to continue to faithfully continue the calling on our lives until whatever time the Lord has decided will be our last breath. Our lives are in His hands, and He will do whatever He pleases with us. Still, it is up to us to remain faithful to the task He has called us to and always be watchful for that day He comes to talk us home, or what we might call the rapture of the church, that starts with the resurrection of the dead, then we who are still alive will be caught up in the air to meet our Lord face to face. What a day that will be, when my Jesus I will see, I look into his face, the one who saved me by his grace. When he takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land, what a day, glorious day that will be. In the meantime, we work, watch, and wait.