I WILL

(Post by: Lilly Hobbs)

One of our close friends called my dad earlier this week to share that he had plans to visit a relative near us, and to ask if he could stay with us while he was here. Of course my dad said yes, and we couldn’t wait to see him!

In the midst of the excitement and anticipation to see our friend who we hadn’t seen for quite some time, reality set in. We needed to clean, bake, and prepare for our guest!

We all know that preparing for a guest takes a lot of time and effort, right? For some people, they very much dislike having to put in the work for someone to come. I mean, some of us have the gift of hospitality more than others, haha!

Trust me, I’ve definitely been that person before, but there’s just something different about preparing for someone who would not only do the same for you, but who loves Jesus more than anything and is obedient to whatever Christ calls him to.

This got me thinking about a quote by Francis Chan that I want to share with you today. He said, “Whenever I meet people who resemble a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1), having suffered for the Gospel, I’m ready to give them the shirt off my back. I feel an immediate affinity and bond in the Spirit. Their lives resemble the life of Christ. Loving them and serving them is an honor because it feels like I am serving Christ Himself.”

I guess my question for us today is not if we know Jesus is coming back, because we know without a doubt that He is, just like we knew our friend was indeed coming to our house. But rather, do we have an urgency to prepare? An urgency full of anticipation and hope?

Truth is, if you are a genuine and true follower of Jesus, you should already be preparing by being in constant communion with Him, preaching the Word in and out of season, and by making different and radical choices for the sake of the Kingdom.

Sometimes, however, we need a little heart-check to make sure that we aren’t preparing for Him to come as if it is a dreadful chore that we have no desire to do with excellence. I am convinced that it is the most beautiful thing when we can serve our Savior with an unrestrained heart.

Psalm 59:6-10 says, “They return at evening, snarling like dogs and prowling around the city. Look, they spew from their mouths- sharp words from their lips. “For who” they say, “will hear?” But you laugh at them, Lord; you ridicule all the nations. I will keep watch for you, my strength, because God is my stronghold. My faithful God will come to meet me; God will let me look down on my adversaries.”

I think what this generation lacks and so desperately needs are Christians who are bold enough to say “I will” and actually do. The world needs us, y’all! They need us to warn them, and they need us to truly believe that Christ is worth all of our time and effort spent preparing and doing what He has called us to.

Leonard Ravenhill once said, “Christ has not conquered my affections if He has to compete for my attention.”

I encourage you to read that quote again. Even now, ask yourself if Christ has to compete for your attention.

I’m afraid that so many of us are like the people in the verse that we just read. We have somehow convinced ourselves, in the midst of the busyness we create, that God doesn’t hear us. That God doesn’t really care about how we live.

David points out that there are clearly two kinds of people. Those who don’t care about preparing and don’t think that God does either, and those who say “I will” and intentionally choose to wait upon the Lord. They know that God will come to meet them, and they are more than ready for when He does.

The question before us, then, is which one will Jesus find us to be?

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” (Benjamin Franklin)

SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

= How are you going to prepare for Christ today?

= Has He conquered your affections?

= What are you going to do differently?