1 John 2:28 “Now dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
Lord, I remember when I was growing up my parents would leave us kids alone at home for short periods of time with a list of chores that were to be completed before they returned. Sometimes they would give us an estimated time of arrival (ETA), and sometimes they would not. We knew there would be a, “Well done!”, or consequences when they returned dependent on our obedience. Unfortunately, if they gave us a specific time, we would wait until it was almost time for their return and then scramble to try to get the jobs done before they arrived. Usually that held consequences because the jobs were not done completely, had been done inadequately, or had been done altogether incorrectly. The times when they did not give us a definite ETA, we hurried to get the jobs done right after they left, if that was possible, so that when they returned we would be, “confident and unashamed” at their arrival.
There have been times when I have had surprise guests that came to my home, or have had surprise visits from my supervisors where I was working. I found early in my marriage that a tidy home need not be spotless and that toys all over the floor did not constitute clutter.
However; if I had been not so industrious (lazy) and had allowed the mess from three boys and two adults daily living to pile up everywhere and someone came while I was on the couch watching TV, I was always apologetic and ashamed. At work, if I was doing my job as I was expected to be, the surprise visit was welcomed. If I was not, there was dread.
The threat of surprise audits tend to keep employees and business leaders on their toes and honest. Pop quizzes on the material a student was supposed to read before coming to class make most students more diligent. Surprise speed traps on the highway make speeders and reckless drivers slow down to the speed limit and pay more attention to the laws of the road.
Lord, You have told us to be about our Father’s business of building the Kingdom and that You could return at any time. I want very much to be pleasing to You when You make Your surprise visit to earth to take me home. I do not want to be ashamed at what I AM doing or for what I am NOT doing. I want to be confident and unashamed before You.
1 John 2:28 “Now dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
Lord, I remember when I was growing up my parents would leave us kids alone at home for short periods of time with a list of chores that were to be completed before they returned. Sometimes they would give us an estimated time of arrival (ETA), and sometimes they would not. We knew there would be a, “Well done!”, or consequences when they returned dependent on our obedience. Unfortunately, if they gave us a specific time, we would wait until it was almost time for their return and then scramble to try to get the jobs done before they arrived. Usually that held consequences because the jobs were not done completely, had been done inadequately, or had been done altogether incorrectly. The times when they did not give us a definite ETA, we hurried to get the jobs done right after they left, if that was possible, so that when they returned we would be, “confident and unashamed” at their arrival.
There have been times when I have had surprise guests that came to my home, or have had surprise visits from my supervisors where I was working. I found early in my marriage that a tidy home need not be spotless and that toys all over the floor did not constitute clutter.
However; if I had been not so industrious (lazy) and had allowed the mess from three boys and two adults daily living to pile up everywhere and someone came while I was on the couch watching TV, I was always apologetic and ashamed. At work, if I was doing my job as I was expected to be, the surprise visit was welcomed. If I was not, there was dread.
The threat of surprise audits tend to keep employees and business leaders on their toes and honest. Pop quizzes on the material a student was supposed to read before coming to class make most students more diligent. Surprise speed traps on the highway make speeders and reckless drivers slow down to the speed limit and pay more attention to the laws of the road.
Lord, You have told us to be about our Father’s business of building the Kingdom and that You could return at any time. I want very much to be pleasing to You when You make Your surprise visit to earth to take me home. I do not want to be ashamed at what I AM doing or for what I am NOT doing. I want to be confident and unashamed before You.
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