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[Jesus said] “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”Luke 12:35-40

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

What do you have to do to get ready for school in the morning? When your alarm goes off, maybe you eat breakfast, get dressed, brush your teeth, pack your homework, and grab your lunch. There are usually quite a few things you need to do to be ready for a day at school!

Just like we get ready for school, Jesus wants us to be ready for the day he returns. In our reading today, Jesus says, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” But what does that even mean? Do we need special clothes? Do we need real lamps with fire in them? No! Jesus is using picture language to help us understand something important: He is coming back someday, and we don’t know when—so we should be ready.

Here’s the problem: we can’t get ready by ourselves because we mess up and sin. But God already knew that. That’s why he “clothes” us in Jesus’ perfection—Jesus covers us with his perfect life so we’re ready to meet God.

So instead of wearing special clothes for the Last Day, we can “wear” Jesus’ goodness every day. When we show kindness, forgiveness, and love, people can actually see Jesus’ love shining through us! And when we tell others the great things God has done, that’s like keeping the light of our faith burning bright.

We get ready for lots of important things—school, visitors coming over, church, birthdays. Let’s also make sure we’re ready for the most amazing thing of all—the day Jesus takes all believers to heaven.

Dear Lord, we want to be ready for the day when you come. Help us to remember that we can’t get ready on our own. We need your help! Be with us as we prepare for the day that you will return. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

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