Are You Ready?

You know what tomorrow is, right?

It's Sunday - time to go to church and receive a message from the Lord!

(Really, Kristen? A message from the Lord? Is that what we're calling it now?)

Well, assuming you are in a church that teaches the Word of God, then yes, that's what I'm calling it:

"So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:1

According to this, when God's Word goes forth, it goes with a purpose - God's purpose - and it will accomplish what He desires and will succeed in the situation for which He sent it.

Tomorrow God's Word will be going out and you will be there to receive it. Unfortunately, many of us will enter church like this woman above, arms crossed and in no position to receive anything.

Let me explain: Sometimes Dave and the kids throw a ball around to each other in the living room and when I'm not looking or even interested in playing, they throw it to me and it bounces off my folded arms...or forehead...usually forehead. I was in no physical position to receive the ball, I was most likely in no mood to receive it and when it was over, I was not happy that it hit me in the head.

Is that a picture of you in church? Do you enter the doors with arms folded rather than arms open wide. You've all heard that phrase in our praise choruses - "Here I stand, arms open wide..." or "I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned..." What is the picture of the worshippers arms in these songs? Open wide, in a receiving position. If I stood with my arms opened wide, when that ball is thrown at me, I can catch it - receive it much easier than if my arms are folded across my chest.

What about your mood? Do you even feel like receiving anything? Or are you just bringing your family, hoping they hear the Word and change? And when God's Word hits you in the head, how's your attitude? You weren't prepared, you're in no mood and now your head hurts. Is this the kind of worshipper you are on Sunday mornings?

We know from Isaiah that when the Lord sends out His Word, He does it with a purpose to accomplish something. My challenge to you tonight is to get ready to receive the Word tomorrow. Let's start with having the right attitude, the correct spiritual posture- open up those arms and get ready to receive whatever it is that God throws to you.

Aren't you excited to hear what He has to say? To see what He will do with it? To have the privilege to not only understand it but live it out? Aren't you excited?

Come on friends, let's take a good look at our hearts tonight and fire up about tomorrow's service.

Are you ready?