Our Lord’s Surprise Visits
You also be ready… —Luke 12:40
A Christian worker’s greatest need is a readiness to face Jesus Christ
at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience has
been. This battle is not against sin, tdifficulties,
or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in our service to Jesus Christ
that we are not ready to face Jesus Himself at every turn. The greatest need is
not facing our beliefs or doctrines, or even facing the question of whether or
not we are of any use to Him, but the need is to face Him.
Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect
Him, and always in the most illogical situations. The only way a servant can
remain true to God is to be ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. This
readiness will not be brought about by service, but through intense spiritual
reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This sense of expectation will
give our life the attitude of childlike wonder He wants it to have. If we are
going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious. In other words,
we must stop using religion as if it were some kind of
a lofty lifestyle— we must be spiritually real.
If you are avoiding the call of the religious thinking of today’s world,
and instead are “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2), setting your heart on what
He wants, and thinking His thoughts, you will be considered impractical and a
daydreamer. But when He suddenly appears in the work of the heat of the day,
you will be the only one who is ready. You should trust no one, and even ignore
the finest saint on earth if he blocks your sight of Jesus Christ.
(Taken from Oswald Chambers – “My
Utmost for His Highest” March 29)