Be Ready

This morning, I was sitting with my coffee when my in-laws’ dog, Henry, came to see me.

Henry is a great dog. He’s fun, full of energy, and always ready to play. But there’s one thing you need to know about Henry:

He loves to play ball.

Not just occasionally. Not just when you feel like it. Henry believes that if there is a ball nearby, somebody ought to be throwing it.

He will bring it over and drop it right in your lap.

You can ignore it.

You can leave it sitting there.

You can keep drinking your coffee.

It doesn’t matter.

Henry will just stare at the ball…and then stare at you…and then stare back at the ball.

He is completely focused.

Eventually, you almost feel obligated to pick it up and throw it again.

As I watched him this morning, I had a thought:

What if we were that focused on the Word of God and proclaiming the gospel?

What if our attention kept coming back to Jesus?

What if we were so convinced that the gospel really is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16) that we lived every day watching for the next opportunity to share it?

Henry doesn’t need to be reminded what he wants to do.

He doesn’t have to be talked into it.

The moment an opportunity presents itself, he is ready.

And I wonder if that shouldn’t describe the people of God.

Paul said:

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.”  

— 2 Timothy 4:2

Be ready.

Ready when the conversation opens.

Ready when someone asks a question.

Ready when a coworker shares a burden.

Ready when a neighbor is hurting.

Ready when a family member needs hope.

Ready when God puts someone directly in our path.

Too often, we know the gospel. We believe the gospel. We sing about the gospel. We hear the gospel preached.

But are we watching for opportunities to proclaim it?

Paul described his life this way:

“I press toward the goal for for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:14

Eyes on the prize.

There are so many things competing for our attention every day. Work-Money-Sports-Politics-Entertainment-Problems-Plans.

But eternity is at stake all around us.

Maybe we need a little of Henry’s focus.

Eyes fixed on Jesus.

Hearts filled with His Word.

The gospel always ready on our lips.

Watching and waiting for the opportunity to tell somebody about Christ.

And when God opens the door…

Go.

Because there is no greater message, no greater mission, and no greater name to proclaim than the name of Jesus.