Advent

Mark 13:30-37 (TLB)

30"Yes, these are the events that will signal the end of the age.31Heaven and earth shall disappear, but my words stand sure forever.
32"However, no one, not even the angels in heaven, nor I myself,knows the day or hour when these things will happen; only the Father knows.33And since you don't know when it will happen, stay alert. Be on the watch for my return.
34"My comingcan be compared with that of a man who went on a trip to another country. He laid out his employees' work for them to do while he was gone and told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
35-37"Keep a sharp lookout! For you do not know when Iwill come, at evening, at midnight, early dawn or late daybreak. Don't let me find you sleeping.Watch for my return!This is my message to you and to everyone else."

One of our boys and his family, live in Germany, so we don't see them a great deal expect by the wonder of the internet. When it's his birthday we need to make good preparations, so cards and a present arrive on time. He and his family visited us for a few days last summer and we still have our four-year-old granddaughters' artwork on the kitchen wall. It reminds us of their visit. When they left, we knew we'd see them again, but we weren't sure when. About four weeks after they had returned home there was a knock at the door. It was around 5.00pm on a Thursday evening and I was preparing dinner. Who could be at the door? It must be a delivery. I opened the door and there stood our son, with a bunch of flowers for his Mum. Unbeknown to us, he'd been working in Birmingham for a few days. We were quite unprepared. He needed feeding and wanted to stay the night.

This is how Jesus describes his return. He will come when people don't expect him. God has a plan but only God knows the timing. So, what does Jesus say we should do, knowing that he will come again one day. Clearly, it is pointless trying to guess God's timetable. Instead, Jesus tells us to be ready. Matthew (chapter 25) records Jesus' parable of the ten wise virgins who had oil in the lamps ready and waiting for their master's return. "Keep a sharp lookout!" said Jesus. "Don't let me find you sleeping." Jesus wants to find us doing the work he has calls us to do.

Earlier in his ministry Jesus was asked. ""What must we do to do the works God requires?" (John 6:28) Jesus replied, "To believe in the one God has sent."

Now reflect on the following questions.

• We make substantial preparations for Christmas. We celebrate Jesus' birthday like no other – the whole world stops on Christmas Day. The birth of Jesus is of global and eternal significance. So, what does Christmas mean to you?
• Are our Christmas preparations just for a few days in December or does Christ's birth, teaching, ministry, death and resurrection, impact upon our lives throughout the year? If so, in what ways? If not, why not?
• How does knowing Christ will return one day influence your thoughts, actions, attitudes and values each and every day?
• Are you preparing for Jesus coming again?

Jesus' command to God's faithful people is not to be blown about by the transient desires, attitudes and values of our present age, but to keep awake doing the work of the Kingdom so we are ready when he returns. Remember Jesus gave us a prayer that should influence our lives and help us to be ready for his return. It includes the words "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done."

Pray

Thank God for Jesus Christ and for all that Christ's birth, life, death and resurrection means to you?

Pray that we might be as earnest about preparing for Christ's second Advent as we are about preparing to celebrate his first.

Pray that God will help you, and the whole Church, grow in faith, and live out our faith in our lives, so we may be effective fishers of men and women and see the Kingdom grow in all sorts of wonderful ways.