I am coming - Be Ready!

This was our third week of the new season. Relationships are growing. There are about 10 people who have joined us recently and it no longer feels like the old and the new, but a new group is developing.

In the last two weeks we have clearly been called to pray and also to action, to be outward focussed. Jim and Fran lead us into action by returning to our specific assignment to pray for the church in Southampton. We carry a passion for unity. This doesn't mean uniformity, but diversity. Our differences are at times challenging, but they enrich us.

Specifically this week we focussed on Jesus' words to the church to "be ready' for his return. We prayed over the three parables in Matthew 25, which follow on from Jesus saying to keep watch, because we do not know on what day He will return.

Three illustrations from Jesus on how to be ready:

Parable of the bridesmaids (Matt 25)

• "Invest in your relationship with me"

• Five of them came with no extra oil. Presumably they felt they were ready for the bridegroom, but when it came to it, they were not.

• Five of them wouldn't/couldn't share their oil. It was too important for them to be ready. We can't live off other people being ready. Being ready ourselves is the first priority.

• The five who were ready are like those who are relating well to Jesus and are ready for his return.

• Be ready everyday - we will all have different rhythms, but we need to find what they are and be ready.

Parable of the talents (Matt 25)

• "Be faithful with a few things."

• The first two servants behaved as their master - they were creative with what he gave them.

• Master described both 5 and 2 as 'a few things'. Let's not compare what we have with what others have.

• 5 can symbolise the torah (the law) ; 2 can symbolise the stone tables (10 commandments); 1 can symbolise God. We may be an expert in bible knowledge, or just have a simple grasp of the gospel, or even just know God, but whatever we have God expects us to use it.

• Our attitude towards God and our revelation of what he is like effects how we live and how we share our faith

Parable of sheep and goats (Matt 25)

• "Love those who I love"

• The normal Christian life is one of helping others.

• Don't just tell me you love me, show me you love me.

• The foundation for doing these things is Jesus. What you did for the least of these you did for me.

Prayer time

We devoted time to praying for the church in Southampton.

Some church leaders have started meeting once a month to get to know each other and to pray together. Today they met for the first of these new monthly meetings. We heard some initial encouraging feedback.

"Homework"

As we continue to pray during the week, why not start (or continue!) to pray for church leaders in your neighbourhood. Commit to praying for them regularly by name.