Maintaining a Heightened Sensitivity to the Commands of Our Lord and Savior

Maintaining a Heightened Sensitivity for Christ

(Luke chapter 12, verses 35–48)

Last week when we finished part 2 of Luke’s gospel, Jesus was giving some extended teaching time to the apostles, as well as the large crowd that had gathered around Jesus to listen, learn and profit from his teachings. He had just told them, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and where no moth destroys.… ”Reject materialism and all materialistic pursuits. Stop worrying about where you will live, what kind of car you drive, or what style of clothing you will wear today or tomorrow. If any of us died in our sleep tonight, we cannot take any of those things with us. They will remain left behind for your relatives and friends to squabble over anyway, so why not just let it all go? Because, you know, life becomes a lot less complicated when we reject materialism. And now today, as we continue following the train of thought of our Lord and Savior as he taught the people and instructed his apostles, let’s take up where we left off last week, beginning at verse 35.

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men 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. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or the third watch of the night. 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. You must also be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12, verses 35–40)

Keep your lamps burning! Remember when we were studying part 3 of chapter 11 several weeks ago? In verses 33–36, Jesus taught about letting the Light of God shine outwardly for all to see, and so be a good example for others to follow. Jesus was reminding everyone of this who was within earshot of him, and he was exhorting the people to maintain this attitude of watchfulness. His reason was that he was…