Read 2 Timothy 4:1-8 and Matthew 24:44

“Be prepared.”

It’s the Boy Scout motto. Founded in 1910, The Boys Scouts of America developed this motto because they wanted young people to be prepared to react quickly to an emergency. World War I was coming, and soon the Boy Scouts — a service-minded organization — would need to help out.

To be prepared in Boy Scouts means “you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty.” Over a century later, they still teach young people to be prepared.

Some of us learned The Boy Scouts laws which are to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. These are all noble goals to strive for. It is also part of being prepared for life.

The verses above are about the second coming of Jesus! So how do you be prepared for that? We can start by speaking about the truth of God in love, talking to others about spiritual matters and know that we need to be equipped to patiently talk about and carefully defend our faith in Jesus. We can be growing as Christians on a daily basis and help others grow. We can be a great and godly example to others.

“Be prepared in season and out of season” has been the theme of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), an interdenominational Christian sports ministry impacting the world for Jesus Christ through the influence of Christian athletes and coaches. They use this verse to remind young people to practice their sport and their Christian faith more than just in season. It is part of being prepared. I find it inspiring when an athlete talks about their faith in Jesus after participating in a challenging sporting event. It tells a world that is full of spiritual junk food that they are prepared and ready for the return of Jesus!

To be prepared includes patience – to be able to accept delay, suffering, or interruptions in a reasonable way. To be patient encourages thoughtful and appropriate responses to comments or criticisms. It means to BE PREPARED to wait, take a step back if necessary, and consider the consequences of a decision before proceeding.

Are you patient?

In the Bible, Jesus fully demonstrated these virtues of patience and being prepared. He overlooked arrogance from religious leaders, did not condemn the skeptical, listened to the lost and endured much suffering. Patience is selfless and an expression of love!

Are you prepared to be patient?

It is part of living courageously in a world that has turned its back on God.

Tom Weckesser