10/1954 - Semper Paratus

"Always ready"—is the watchword of the United States Coast Guard and could well be employed by every vigilant Christian.

There is a word in the New Testament, which has this very connotation. Translated by many different phrases, its underlying meaning everywhere is "always ready." The Master urged His disciples, "that a small ship should wait on Him [be always ready] because of the multitude, lest they should throng Him" (Mark 3:9). Cornelius had a devout soldier that "waited on him continually [was always ready before him]" (Acts 10:7).

The word is used frequently in the book of Acts where the Church of Christ is on the march. The disciples would "give themselves continually to [be always ready for] prayer and the ministry of the Word" (6:4). Paul uses it in his epistles (Romans 12:12 and Colossians 4:2) urging the Christians to be "always ready for prayer."

The Lord is always ready—for your salvation, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21); to keep you, "He that keepeth thee will not slumber" (Psalm 121:3); to hear the cry of his children, "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry" (Psalm 34:15); for any emergency, "Before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24); and He is ready to act on schedule in the course of human history for the fulfillment of His plan of the ages.

Satan is always ready—ready to take advantage of every opportunity to harass and hinder and devour the Christian; ready to step in the moment our guard is dropped; ready to snap up the bargain of a soul in exchange for a few earthly gains.

Are you always ready?—to do His will? to rescue a perishing soul? to pray? to see Him when He comes? The watchword of the Christian must be semper paratus—