Tag: Evangelical

From the series “The Commands of Christ — Love in Action”

“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit… for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
— Luke 12:35, 40, NASB 1995

Jesus didn’t call us to guess the day—He called us to be ready every day.
This is the command not of a distant ruler, but of a loving Bridegroom who desires a faithful and prepared Bride.

To be ready is to live alert.
To stay dressed for action.
To keep your lamp burning—not just in moments of emotion, but in the daily rhythm of love, obedience, repentance, and prayer.

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“Now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”
— 1 John 2:28

We are not waiting in fear.
We are watching in faith.

But readiness is not passive. It is active.
It is the life of a servant whose hands are at the plow, whose oil is stocked, whose eyes are on the horizon, and whose heart beats with expectation.

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The early Church lived this way.
They believed Jesus could return at any moment, and they ordered their lives accordingly.
They were not obsessed with prophecy charts.
They were obsessed with holiness and perseverance.

The Epistle of Barnabas (c. AD 100):
“Let us be alert in the last days… that we may not be found sleeping, but walking in love and righteousness.”
— Ch. 4

The Shepherd of Hermas (2nd century):
“Blessed are those who endure in expectation of Him… who watch and do not let their garments be stained while they wait.”
— Similitude IX

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To obey this command is to:

• Stay awake spiritually
• Live with urgency
• Be faithful in the unseen moments
• Cast off distractions and worldliness
• Walk in the fear of the Lord
• Keep your oil full—not borrowed

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Jesus didn’t say, “Get ready when you see signs.”
He said, “Be ready, for you do not know the hour.”

Readiness is the test of love.
Those who love Him are waiting for Him.
Those who obey Him are preparing for Him.

This is not paranoia.
It’s devotion.

And it’s commanded.

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📚 Sources & References

Watch and Be Ready

Scripture (NASB 1995):

• Luke 12:35, 40 – “Be dressed in readiness… the Son of Man is coming…”
• 1 John 2:28 – “Remain in Him, so that when He appears…”

Ante-Nicene Sources:

• The Epistle of Barnabas, Ch. 4.
  “Let us be alert in the last days… walking in love and righteousness.”
  [Available at: EarlyChristianWritings.com]
• The Shepherd of Hermas, Similitude IX.
  “Blessed are those who endure… who watch and do not stain their garments.”
  [Available at: CCEL.org]

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From the series “The Commands of Christ — Love in Action”

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
— Matthew 6:19–20, NASB 1995

Love for Christ changes what we value.
It reorders the heart.
It frees us from chasing what cannot last and calls us to invest in what cannot be lost.

Jesus didn’t say, “Give everything away so you’ll be poor.”
He said, “Don’t treasure the temporary.”

Because where your treasure is, your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
And Jesus wants your heart.

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Earthly treasures fade.
Moths eat, rust corrodes, thieves break in.
The kingdoms of this world will fall, and all that seemed secure will one day vanish.
But those who belong to Christ are called to live for another Kingdom—one that cannot be shaken.

To love Christ is to loosen our grip on this world.
Not because the things of earth are evil, but because they are fleeting.

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“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
— Colossians 3:2

The early Church lived this out radically.
They weren’t known for wealth or power—but for generosity and simplicity.
They did not store up—they gave freely.
Because they believed Jesus was coming soon, and they longed to be found faithful.

Justin Martyr (c. AD 150):
“We who once valued wealth above all now bring what we have to share… so that none among us may suffer need.”
— First Apology, Ch. 14

Tertullian (c. AD 200):
“What we have is not hoarded in chests, but distributed for the poor… for we know it is better to have treasure in heaven than gold in hand.”
— Apology, Ch. 39

Their hearts were not tied to empires or coin purses.
They lived as strangers and exiles on the earth (Hebrews 11:13).
And the world saw something in them it could not understand:
Contentment. Joy. Eternity in view.

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We cannot say we love Christ and still live like the world is our home.
We cannot cling to earthly security and walk in faith.
We cannot hoard what was given to us to bless others.

This doesn’t mean every Christian must take a vow of poverty.
But it does mean every Christian must take a vow of stewardship—a willingness to use every gift, dollar, and possession for the glory of God and the good of His people.

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“Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts that do not wear out… an unfailing treasure in heaven.”
— Luke 12:33

This is not loss. It is wisdom.
It is investing in eternity.

To obey this command is to trust God more than money.
It is to live free from the grip of materialism.
And it is to live ready—eyes fixed on a Kingdom that is coming soon.

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📚 Sources & References

Do Not Store Up Treasures on Earth

Scripture (NASB 1995):

• Matthew 6:19–21 – “Do not store up… treasures on earth…”
• Colossians 3:2 – “Set your mind on the things above…”
• Luke 12:33 – “Sell your possessions… treasure in heaven.”
• Hebrews 11:13 – “Strangers and exiles on the earth.”

Ante-Nicene Sources:

• Justin Martyr, First Apology, Ch. 14.
  “We bring what we have to share… none among us may suffer need.”
  [Available at: EarlyChristianWritings.com or CCEL.org]
• Tertullian, Apology, Ch. 39.
  “What we have is not hoarded… we know it is better to have treasure in heaven…”
  [Available at: NewAdvent.org]