“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.” – Luke 10:38

When we get word that family or friends are coming from out of town for a visit, we get excited and start making preparations. We look forward to it. However, there have been a few occasions when friends have dropped in unexpectedly. One time in particular, we had barely driven up to the house from a week’s stay at the beach when unannounced guests pulled into the driveway right behind us! We were happy to see them, but I knew the house was a disaster because of our hasty departure, and there was no fresh food in the refrigerator.

We begged for a few minutes to prepare, and while my husband raced to the nearby grocery store, the children and I picked up around the house and made it a little more presentable for entertaining our guests during their overnight stay. How much better prepared we would have been if we had known that they were coming!

Today’s focus verse comes from an account of a time when the Lord was going to visit at Martha, Mary, and Lazarus’ home. Can you imagine the preparation in anticipation of Jesus’ visit? In this Bible story we learn a valuable lesson—Jesus did not care if there was enough food to eat or if the house was perfectly tidy, He only cared that their hearts were ready for His arrival.

The Lord is going to return to this earth soon, and it will not be just for a visit. When He comes, He will take His Church to be with Him forever. The Bible tells us that Jesus will come in an hour that we think not, so Jesus himself urged us to watch and be always ready. If we prepare for the Lord’s return by staying close to Him—in prayer, in thought, and in the study of His Word—our hearts will be ready for His return at any time and all the time. It could be the next moment!