Opposite Of Ready!

October 26, 2023

Opposite Of Ready!

I was not ready when Jesus called me to be a preacher.  I knew nothing of theology, Biblical interpretation, or delivering a message.  I had only ever read one Christian book, read very little of the Bible, and only infrequently attended worship.

I was not ready for what Jesus wanted to do in me and through me.  So…I said, “No!”

I was not ready when asked to speak at my first funeral, lead my first small group, or provide my first counseling/guidance.  I was not ready when I was expected to organize my first annual business meeting, lead by first student ski trip, or print the first worship bulletin.

I was not ready for what Jesus wanted to do in me and through me.  So…I said, “No!”

The Apostle Paul wanted to make sure the Christ-followers in the church at Corinth were ready when part of his team arrived to visit the church.  In II Corinthians 9:3 Paul writes; “But I am sending the brothers (the team!) in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be…”

Paul knew that the opposite of being ready was being empty.  I am reminded of four Biblical statements that remind us that we need to be ready, we need to be filled, and we need to be prepared.  Otherwise, we will say, “No!” to Jesus. 

The first text is from Psalm 63:1-2.  David writes while he is living in the wilderness during a long and dry spell in his life. 

David writes; “O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land were there is no water.”  David was experiencing a season of life when his soul was empty.  He describes his spiritual emptiness being like an intense thirst deep in his soul.  David was not ready! 

The Apostle Paul understood what David was describing.  When Paul writes to the church in Corinth, he wants to make sure the Christ-followers in that city are full and ready rather than empty and unprepared.  Paul worried the Christ-followers in Corinth were not ready and would not chase after Jesus.

The second text is from Jesus’ first sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.  As Jesus offers the essentials of living in an intimate relationship with the Lord God, He describes what it means to be full, to be prepared, to be ready. 

In Matthew 5:6 Jesus says; “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  Jesus says that the way we are filled, the way we are ready, the way we are prepared to be and do what Jesus calls us to be and do is to thirst after a right and holy relationship with Jesus.  Paul wanted the Christ-followers in Corinth to be ready by being in filled with the presence of Jesus. 

The third text is from Revelation 21:6.  Jesus says; “It is done!  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.” 

For those whose heart and mind and soul thirst for more of God, Jesus will give them the water of life to fill them, prepare them, and to make them ready.  Paul was confident the Christ-followers in Corinth knew Jesus was the water of life.  He was concerned they had not recently and frequently tapped Jesus as the source of that water.

The fourth text are the words of Jesus.  In John 7:37-38 Jesus says; “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.  As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’”

Jesus is clear that the emptiness that we often know in our soul is experienced as a deep thirst for more of Jesus.  It is Jesus who satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart as well as the on-going thirst for more of our Savior.  Paul wanted to be certain that the Christ-followers in Corinth were ready to do whatever Jesus called them to be and do.  Paul wanted the people to seek the living water who is Jesus. 

Sometimes we are not ready for what Jesus wants to do in us and through us.  This is why Paul desired the Christ-followers to be filled with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul wanted the people to be ready!

Paul wants the believers to be filled with the kind of strength and courage and boldness that comes when we are assured of Jesus’ love for us and to be prepared to share Jesus’ love with others.  Paul wanted the Christ-followers in Corinth to be ready for God’s next blessing, to be ready for the Spirit’s next movement, and to be ready for Jesus’ next outpouring of love.

When Jesus fills us with the living water that satisfies the deepest thirsts of our soul, we are ready not empty, we are prepared not lacking, we are filled with delight not cowering in fear.

Are you ready?  Really!?!?  Are you ready for the next thing Jesus wants to do in you and through you this week?  Ask Jesus to fill you with the living water that only Jesus can give you.  Let your answer to Jesus be, “Yes!”

The promise is that when you are ready, Jesus will fill your life with delight in God’s goodness and greatness.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug