Do you know that the Bridegroom is returning to get His bride, the Church? You are the Church.
Ephesians 5:27 'so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. '
If you are the Church (the bride), are you behaving like it?
Jesus is returning for His bride, the Church and He wants her to be without blemish.
Revelation 21:1-2 'Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. '
2 Corinthians 5:17 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. '
In Luke 12:32-34, Jesus reminds us that He desires to give us the kingdom, but we need to seek what we have and give it to the needy. He tells us that wherever we set our treasure (what we value and desire) is where our heart really lays.
What do you most treasure? Do you treasure it more than God?
1 Samuel 15:23 tells us that rebellion is a sin like witchcraft. That is serious.
Are you treasuring God above all or are you loving your sin more?
Jesus continues in Luke 12:35 to stay alert and be ready. Don't take advantage of the time you think you have. Tomorrow is not promised. Be prepared for His return.
We need to get right with God. Behave Christ-like if you are in fact the bride of Christ. We should love the Word of the LORD more than anything else. What does your lamp look like? Do you have oil (passion and perseverance) in your lamp so that it can be bright and shine for the Lord and the world to see?
vs. 36 - When someone comes over unannounced and you're not ready for company, looking a mess and in a house that is a mess, you don't immediately open. But Jesus says in verse 37, you will be blessed if you are ready.
If Jesus came back unannounced in this moment, would you be ready to receive Him or would you feel like you have to get ready? If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready.
vs. 38-40 says if you knew when He would return and you would act differently, then you are acting wrong now. We must be ready for Him to come at any moment.
Vs. 41-47 reminds us of the consequences of taking advantage of God's kindness by acting how we want and believing it doesn't matter.
Vs. 48 says we will be held accountable with what God has given us (knowledge, time, money). He will judge based on those things.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ' Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. '
As the temple of God, are you acting according to the Word of the Lord so that you can be ready for His return?