“When
He Comes and Knocks” by Melanie Rigney
For just as through the disobedience
of one man, the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one, the
many will be made righteous. Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the
more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through
justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans
5:19-21)
Here I am, Lord; I come to do
your will. (Psalm 40:8a and 9a)
"Gird your loins and light your lamps and be
like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open
immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the
master finds vigilant on his arrival.” (Luke 12:35-37)
Piety
Lord, help me to focus more on You
and less on my schedule and to-do list.
Study
The day job, the speaking, the
writing. My life runs on a highly regulated schedule. Yours may as well, with
different obligations and responsibilities—spouse, children, grandchildren,
work, volunteer activities. It’s not that we dislike a single one of them. It’s
just that at times—let’s be honest, a lot more than “at times”—it becomes
overwhelming. We can’t do everything, let alone do everything well.
But when the to-do list and the
schedule starts to rule our lives, that’s a problem. God, you see, doesn’t come
on a schedule. Oh, we can go to Him on a schedule—Mass, private prayer, prayer
group, Bible study, and so on—and He’s always happy to see us. But are we happy
to see Him other times? You know
those times—when a friend needs to talk about something that’s happening,
joyful or sad. When the panhandler you see every day and never give a cent to
says for the first time, “Have a blessed day.” When a family member needs a
ride to a routine medical appointment, and it just isn’t on your docket for the
day.
Schedules are important. We need
them. But when we set them up as more important than random opportunities to
encounter the Lord and His people, we ignore His knock on the door and endanger
our salvation.
Action
Be present to
someone or something not on your schedule or to-do list.
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