BE PREPARED
Matthew 24:43-44
Today’s topic is the popular motto of the Boy Scouts Movement. Be prepared. According to Robert Baden-Powell, “a scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practicing how on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise”. If you analyze this charge by the founder of the Scouts movement, a few phrases should catch our attention as believe.
One: A scout should prepare himself. This means that the scout should be ready at all times for any eventuality. To be prepared is to make ready before hand for a specific purpose, event, person or occasion. As a child of God are you ready for your groom? You must ensure that you put in place all that you need to be a part of that “glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” Ephesians 5:27.
There must be a previous “thinking out” of an event that is likely to occur and what your response or reaction should be. This is mental preparation. A Christian should be mentally alert to the times and seasons. He should have an understanding of the times and seasons. Like the sons of Issachar, “who had understanding of times”, a Christian should know what to do per time. This is preparation. No season should catch you unawares. You are a child of God. Your father is in control of the universe. If you are in tune with Him, no season should catch you by surprise.
A scout should “practice how” to deal with a situation before it arises. This goes beyond mental preparation to practical and pragmatic steps. There are things you need to do today in preparation for what will happen in the future. For instance, we go to school today to prepare us for the challenges of tomorrow. An Olympic athlete would prepare for years for just a hundred meter dash that does not last ten seconds! Practicing out requires discipline and determination not only to participate but to win. Success is not a sudden arrival, but the cumulative effect of a disciplined and well managed destiny. Neither is failure an accident but the cumulative effect of a mismanaged and undisciplined destiny.
The Boys’ Scouts’ charge is relevant to us as believers today. We must be prepared. In the next few days, we shall consider a few things that a Christian should prepare for.
MEDITATION : Proverbs 6:6-8
