#84 Luke 12:35-40 Jesus Will Come In and Dress Himself to Serve

On August 14, 2022 by Amy Burgin

Joy:
Episode #84 Luke 12:35-40

Welcome

Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.

Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin.

Amy:
Amid a world of many words, this podcast makes room for the God-breathed Words, the best words, the ones that rightly convict, correct, teach, and lead us. Each week we read one passage from the Bible several times and create stillness after each reading so we might also be still, listen, and know God more for ourselves.

We are in a very long series that takes us through the book of Luke.

Pour Out Your Heart to God

Amy:
Before I read today’s passage, take a minute to pour out your heart to God. Maybe you have a list of questions for which you need answers or a heart filled with hope, grief, gratitude, bitterness, joy, worry, or a mix of all these things and more. Whatever is on your mind, name it and bring it to God in the next minute.

[Pause and pour out your heart to God]

What Does This Passage Say About God?

Joy:
I’m going to read today’s passage two times. As I read, consider the question, what does this tell us about God?

Luke 12:35-40 35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Again?

Take a minute to be still and know what this says about God.

[Pause and know]

What Does This Passage Say About People?

Joy:
As I reread the passage, consider a different question. What does this tell us about people?

Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about people?

[Pause and know]

Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?

Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?

Take the next minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”

[Pause and listen]

Blessing

Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you turn your face toward Jesus today and know his love.

One Response

Amy:
Most scholars agree Jesus is talking about his return to earth. Jesus came to earth, was crucified and buried, rose from the grave on the third day, and will return at an unknown hour in the clouds with great power (Mark 13:26).

I think this verse speaks not only to his return in the clouds, but also to his daily knock on the door of our hearts.

Sometimes he knocks in the middle of the night, sometimes the middle of the day. I want to be a woman ready to immediately open the door in response to his knock regardless of the hour on the clock.

Sometimes, I like to turn the music up really loud in my living room. When I do, I can’t hear the doorbell. So it can be with the knock of Christ. If I turn up the music of life really loud, I might not hear his knock on my door.

If I turn up the melody of self-pity, I might not hear his rat-tat-tat upon my door.

If I turn up the rhythm of addiction, addiction to anything, I might not notice his knock.

If I turn up the chords of secular goals, striving, and exhaustion, I might miss his visit.

If I turn up the bass of bitterness, I might not know when he rings the bell.

If I turn up the noise of worry, such as what I will eat or wear, I might not hear his knock.

And if I do not hear his knock, how can I let him in? And if I do not let him in, how can I receive his gifts?

As we heard today in verse 37, He always comes bearing gifts, coming to serve exactly what we need.

Love that banishes the onset of self-pity.

Satisfaction that replaces addiction to that, with addiction to Him, the one thing we really need over and over again.

Purpose that replaces weary striving toward temporal goals with fixed focus on the eternal goal of Christ.

Forgiveness that frees us from the bondage of bitterness.

Surpassing peace to replace our useless worry.

I firmly believe, if we are ready to receive him like this, day after day after day, we will be ready for judgment day.

Closing

Amy:
As always, you can find a transcript of this episode at amyburgin.com. Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.