A teacher told his class that he would be going away for several weeks, and he offered to give a prize to the student whose desk he found in the best order when he came back. But he didn't tell them what day he would return.

Because the prize was big, each child was determined to get it, including a little girl whose desk was normally quite messy. Her classmates jeered, "Mary, you'll never win. Your desk is never neat."

"Oh, I plan to clean it the first of every week from now on."

"But," someone said, "suppose he comes at the end of the week?"

"Then I'll clean it every morning."

"But," another classmate persisted, "He may come at the end of the day."

For a moment the child was silent in thought. Then she said decidedly, "I know what I'll do. I'll just keep it clean!"

If we want to receive our Lord's approval at His return, we must always be ready. Jesus did not tell us to "get ready," but rather to "be ready" (Mt. 24:44). We are to live constantly in a state of spiritual preparedness, anticipating the moment when He will appear and ask us to give account of our stewardship.

Are you ready for His return?  — Henry G. Bosch