Living Outloud: Living Ready
Let’s talk about the red-letter urgency in Matthew 22–25. Jesus isn’t just giving us poetic parables or end-times intrigue—He’s laying out a blueprint for how to live like we actually believe He’s coming back. Not someday. Not maybe. But soon.
And here’s something to remember: He doesn’t want us guessing the date. He wants us living like it could be today.
🕰️ Stop Predicting. Start Preparing.
Jesus says it straight in Matthew 24:42—“Be alert, because you don’t know the day your Lord is coming.” That’s not a suggestion. That’s a command. So when we jump on TikTok or YouTube and get wrapped up in rapture dates, telling people to repent before the day, we’re not just wrong—we’re distracting people from what actually matters.
Here’s the danger: fear-based faith doesn’t last. If someone comes to Jesus just to avoid being “left behind” on a specific date, what happens when that date passes and nothing happens? Disillusionment. Doubt. Maybe even walking away.
So let’s shift the urgency. Not “Jesus might come tomorrow,” but “you might not have tomorrow.” That’s real. That’s biblical. That’s evangelism with integrity.
🔥 What Does Readiness Look Like?
Jesus gives us three parables to answer that question:
Ten virgins: readiness means spiritual alertness.
Talents: readiness means using what God gave you.
Sheep and goats: readiness means loving the overlooked.
And He wraps it all in two commands: love God fully, and love your neighbor like you love yourself. That’s not two separate lanes—it’s one road. You love God by loving people. Period.
So here’s the action step: look around. Who’s in your path today? Who’s hurting, overlooked, or just spiritually hungry? That’s your assignment. That’s your worship.
🚫 Beware the Self-Focused Faith
Jesus doesn’t applaud the Pharisees for their quiet times or theological precision. He calls them out for missing the point. If your faith is all about your personal spiritual journey but never spills out into service, you’re not following Jesus—you’re following a sanitized version of Him.
So let’s flip the script. Less “how am I growing?” and more “who am I serving?” Less “am I ready for the rapture?” and more “am I ready to love radically today?”
👑 When the Master Returns…
He’s not checking your Bible trivia score. He’s not grading your worship playlist. He’s looking for love in action. He’s looking for people who fed the hungry, welcomed the outsider, visited the sick, and shared the gospel—not out of fear, but out of love.
So here’s the final question: when Jesus returns, how will He find you?
Let’s live like the answer is: Serving. Loving. Ready.
