Our Personal Regard for Himself

“LET your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.” Such is the position and character to which the Lord exhorts us.
Girded about, an eastern servant is in no idle attitude; his long garments are gathered up about him, and he is ready for his master’s call. The loins are figurative of strength, the girdle bound about them braces up its wearer; so, we may say, a believer, who is braced up in desires for Christ, is practically ready for his Lord’s return.
Every believer is made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, through God’s grace, but practical readiness for the Lord at His coming is dependent on our love to Christ. No believer can wear the girdle for another―each must have his loins girded about for himself. Solemn, then, is the exhortation of our Lord to us each one, “Let your loins be girded about.”
In the East, in tent life, the lights are usually kept burning at night time; in the palace, in its lord’s absence, the lights burning brightly bear witness that a welcome awaits him.
How will the Lord be welcomed by us? What is the light we keep burning for Him? The light is for His eye, let us remember. Does our heart say, “Even so, Lord Jesus,” in response to His word, “Surely I come quickly”? If so, a heart-welcome of ours awaits our Lord at His coming.
The eastern lamp needs constant trimming, frequent filling with oil, frequent tending of the wick; its light cannot be turned up like a gas-burner, as some almost think they can produce their spirituality when occasion may require. Each servant is responsible to his Master for the state of his own lamp. Being filled with the Spirit will alone enable us to maintain the bright witness of welcome to our coming Lord, who says to us, each one, “Let... your lights be burning.”
Love is a good watchman. A hired attendant may fall asleep by a sick bedside: love keeps the eyes of the true nurse open. We may be able to explain the meaning of texts about the Lord’s coming, but it is love to Him that keeps us waiting for Him. The love of a faithful servant is beautiful indeed, even in a house on earth; highly esteemed is this faithful love to Himself by our Lord and Master in heaven. He will never forget it. The truly faithful servant waits and watches for Him, even though He come not till the third watch. Not a moment’s delay by the faithful servant precedes the opening of the door upon his Master’s knock. Ready in heart, ready with welcome, they open unto Him immediately.
“Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching.” Blessed now as His eye rests upon them, blessed by and by, as He shall gird Himself, feast them, and serve them. Let us heed our Master’s words, “Ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.”