What if Christians actually lived ready?

Matthew 24:44 "You also must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected."(NLT, emphasis added)

It's popular now-a-days to try to avoid "cliche"church things like saying "what would Jesus do" or "live every day like Jesus is coming" - but if we don't ask these questions or do these things we are ignoring what Jesus himself commands us to to in His word. Living a "ready" life is something that is often talked about an encouraged in church, but is hard to understand practically. I am, generally, never fully prepared for anything. I am a procrastinator. When you regularly struggle to be prepared for trash day, it's really hard to imagine being prepared for the second coming of the Messiah.

So how do we do live like Jesus is coming back today? Well, we have a choice. I think many people, if they were honest with themselves, would probably just do whatever they wanted if they knew Jesus was coming back today: call family, spend a crazy amount of money at restaurants, listen to some of Pastor Dave's past sermons online... If it were me, I would probably want to take my wife and daughter somewhere awesome and spend as much time showing them my love as I can - because that's what I love doing. However, I don't think I would allow myself to do only that - and I hope you wouldn't either. I love my family more than anything in this world, but if this is the last day I have on this earth I pray that I live it trying to get as many people as possible to see God's love and know His Son. I hope I would be like Isaiah who said: "Here I am, send me (Isa. 6:8)."

For the record - I in no way agree with those who neglect their families for their ministry - that isn't what God wants either, however if the Son of man is coming when we least expect it, we all need to make sure that as many people are ready as is possible.

My question to you is - did you live ready today? When you go about your day, from place to place, are you looking for opportunities or do you hope no interrupts you so you can do what you went there to do?

My challenge for you this week is to pull out that w.w.j.d bracelet that has been hiding in your sock drawer and realize that it's better to be cliche than to miss what God wants to do through you. (Then if you're like me, you will put the bracelet right back in the drawer.)