The Plumbline

Staying on your toes is a term used to describe being prepared for whatever could happen.  In simplest terms, it means to be ready for action - ready to jump in and to take action.  In another sense, we can describe this as alertness or awareness of what is going on around you.  Either way, there is attentiveness, preparedness, and an investment which is spoken of when this term is used to describe someone. So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul.   (Hebrews 3:12-14 The Message) As this chapter opens, we are called to take a good, hard look at Jesus.  This is suggestive of more than just merely "entertaining" a fleet...

13-18 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. (Ephesians 6:13-18) Be prepared - isn't this one of the mottoes of the Scouts?  Preparation is really a a state of being properly expectant - the idea being that we are equipped and ready for whatever comes.  How many times do we hear people tell us, "That caught me off-guard!" and wonder just how something that seems so "simple" to us was almost ...