If sin dulls us to true glory, it also makes us drowsy to our responsibilities. Our confession of sin is not like the alarm clock, but like walking on the cold floor to get to the blaring alarm clock all the way across the room. Confessing our sin can help wake us up.
Jesus told a parable recorded in Luke 12 about some servants who “were waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast” (12:36). They wanted to be ready for when he arrived, and Jesus said, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes” (12:37). “If he comes in the second watch (around 10pm to 2am), or in the third (around 2am to 6am), and finds them awake, blessed are those servants” (12:38).
What’s surprising about this version of the story comes between the two blesseds. “Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.” Who is the he? And the them The “he” who serves is the master, the “them” who recline are the servants. It shouldn’t be this way.
In other illustrations, Jesus pointed out that ready servants were just doing their job (see Luke 17:7-10). Servants serve; it is their duty.
But here, the context is one of joy. The master is returning from a wedding feast. Don’t be anxious, but eager for that grace that our Master is bringing. He is coming in to share His joy with His servants. As Peter wrote:
preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)
By grace watch for grace.