Have you paused to think about the definition of the word ‘Moment’? If you haven’t, let me illustrate it with a story, of what happened at my workplace last week.

I used to be the opener on Saturdays at my workplace, but it’s been a while since I’ve done Saturdays. But every now and then when my friends need help, I pitch in. Last Saturday was one such Saturday. I was the opener.

I opened the building like I normally do and everything was business as usual. To the best of my knowledge, I did everything right. We open childcare at about 8:00 am, so at about 7:45 the person in charge of childcare came to the desk to pick up the keys. I opened the drawer and gave her the keys and then went on to do my work.

In about 15 minutes I get a call from the senior director that the regional CEO of our organization had just walked in and I did not greet him and to add to it, the TV’s which should have been turned on ( by the opener ) was not turned on. To say that I trembled, would be an understatement.

I immediately picked up the remote control and walked into the gym floor to turn on the TVs with my hands shaking. I was already trembling and to add to the tension the TVs were all not on default mode, which meant I had to individually set up each of those 10 TVs to the correct channel and I had no clue how I needed to do that. I called my director to learn how to do it and he was trying to give me instructions over the phone. I was able to get some of them to the right channels, but my director had to come in to make sure everything was as it should be!!

And I had decided in my mind that I should apologize to my CEO on his way out. You would not believe me, but every 3 seconds I kept looking to see if he was walking out. After about an hour, my boss came to the desk and I asked him if the CEO was still in there. My boss told me he had left quite a while ago! So, I had missed him again!!!! I did not know when he came in and I did not know when he walked out!!!

I returned home sullen and my heart still trembling. I did not know what to make of this!!! It took me several hours to get back to myself!!!

I had missed the MASTER in just a moment when I was busy with something else!!! It was just a moment!!!! Just a MOMENT!!!

The next day ( I would like to think it was JUST A COINCIDENCE) I had to read Matthew 24! I’m doing the book of Matthew right now. And here are some of the verses in Matthew 24 and 25.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” 24:42

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” 24:44

“the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,” 24:50

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” 25:1

Coincidence galore or a subtle reality check!!! Whichever one it was, it undoubtedly impressed two words in my mind. “ Watch therefore…”

Since the “missing of the moment” was tied to these two words, I wanted to dive deeper to understand these two words!! So what does “Watch therefore” imply?? What does our master want his servants to watch for????

Let’s go back to my story. Had I known that my Regional CEO was coming beforehand, what would have I done differently? I would have definitely made sure I knew what he looked like so I could have greeted him warmly when he walked in coz that’s the policy of our organization. Customer Service is our top priority. Then I would have made sure everything was spic n’ span ( which I did anyways ) and third, I would have learned from my boss the previous day a list of things I needed to get done to make sure I did everything right. So, to sum it up, I would have had a chat with my boss the previous day!!!

And that’s precisely what God expects from us when he says “Watch therefore..”!!! To take the time each day with our Lord, to make sure we are everything that he expects of us!!!

Here’s the thing- Although missing the coming of the master may “look” like it was just a happenstance, nothing could be further from the truth!! Rather, it is only a predictable outcome of the cumulative negligence of being seated with him in private, over days, months or perhaps years!!!

If we do not spend time with our Lord, how will we know what we need to be doing on earth during the few fleeting days of our life? How will we know what to repent of? I don’t want to make this post too long, but I’d like to share one last story to drive home a point.

A few weeks ago, a relative of mine called me and we chatted a while. In the middle of the conversation he asked me about a common friend and the last I heard about this person was not good. So I went on to tell all that I heard about them and to tell the truth, I did portray like this person was on the wrong side. Conversation was over. All done. The next day was a Wednesday and it was prayer service at church.

Usually the first 30 minutes we pray together as a congregation and the next 30 minutes we pray individually by ourselves in our own pews. We had completed the congregational prayer and I just knelt down to pray by myself. No sooner did I kneel down, I felt an impression in my heart. I did not expect this the least bit!! But that impression was inescapable.

It was not an audible voice. But a strong impression. Here’s what I felt – “Unnai polavey irukkura andha pillayai pathi Kuraiva pesa Unakku eppadi manasu vandhadhu?” I felt this question in my mother tongue Tamil. ( How did you have the heart to talk ill about a girl who is just like you??) Needless to say, tears flowed down my face and I repented.

The reason I shared this was because the previous day or even until a moment earlier, I did not feel an ounce of guilt. I didn’t ever feel like I did ANYTHING wrong!!! But when I sat at his feet, it was WHOLE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE!!! I felt his heart, God’s very own heart!

That’s precisely the reason, Jesus wants us to sit at his feet. He speaks to us, cleanses us and prepares us to meet him on that GREAT DAY. Jesus doesn’t ask anything except to sit at his feet each day. Even that, today’s Christians don’t have the time to do!!!

“And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

And unquestionably, doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly BEGINS at the feet of JESUS whose return is at the door!!! Look around you, you’ll see that the fig tree’s leaves are getting tender and its leaves are about ready to come out ( Matthew 24:32,33)!!

Will we be considered worthy to be gathered with the saints??? Don’t ever neglect your time alone with God!

Blessed month ahead!!!