Ollie the Border Collie’s three favorite words are, “Are you ready?”

Anytime he hears this question, he is up and ready. Every time. Always. Is it an adventure? Is it work? Does it involve a tennis ball? Are we taking a walk? Are we going for boarding? 

Whenever I ask, wherever we’re bound, Ollie is ready. 

If we had the intelligence of a border collie, we would respond to God in the same manner. Whatever God wants, that’s what we want. Wherever he wants to go, we want to go with him. Whatever he wants to do, that’s what we want to do.

God tells us in these verses and this chapter how he was ready to respond to his people’s needs, but they didn’t bother to ask for help. He was ready to save, deliver, and heal them. They were not ready to do his will his way in his timing. Other matters were more urgent. 

I wonder, have I ever allowed something to be more urgent than knowing and experiencing God? You can answer this question for me, and I can most likely answer it for you. Of course, I have. Of course, you have. That was then. This is now. Today, what could be more urgent than turning to our Father in Heaven to seek his will and ways?

Today is Sunday when we gather with others who seek to express our love and gratitude to God in worship. We gather to learn more about his nature and character. We seek him together so that we may join him in his work of beautifying his world with works of grace, mercy, and compassion. 

God tells us he is ready to be found, ready to respond, ready to change our lives for the better forever. 

Are you ready?

Ollie said, “Yes!”

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I will join with those who are ready to accept God’s gracious offer of a better life.

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Our Father, whatever you want, that’s what I want, too. Wherever you lead, I’ll go. Whatever you say, I’ll do. Amen.