BE CAREFUL, WATCH AND PRAY

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”

Matthew 24:42-44

“Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.”

“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Mark 13:33-37

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Luke 21:34-36

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Watching is an action we may take for granted but it’s something we do all the time.

Sometimes, it’s done out of a matter of caution.

For example, if you have a toddler or small child, you keep a watchful eye on your little one to make sure they don’t end up doing something that would bring harm to themselves.

If you are expecting a package that’s nearing delivery, you will usually keep a watchful eye out for that delivery, especially in this day and age when it seems that anything left on your porch or doorstep could be stolen by some unscrupulous individual.

And what about driving or crossing the street?

When we’re at a busy intersection, don’t we stop and watch the road to the left and right to make sure it’s safe to proceed?

Those are just examples of when we watch out of a concern for something bad happening if we fail to. But there are also times when we perform the act of watching but it has nothing to do with any possible peril if we fail to do so.

We like to watch television for entertainment.

We sometimes watch nature; I know I do as I sit at my desk and telework, admiring the different types of birds that like to perch atop my neighbor’s backyard fencing.

And there are times that we are expecting company to come, maybe family members visiting from afar, and we typically will anxiously and excitedly watch for their arrival.

Indeed, watching is something familiar to all of us and as we look at our three passages from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we see that it’s something that Jesus called His followers (us included) to do. Look again at His words here:

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” Matthew 24:42-44

“Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.”

“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” Mark 13:33-37

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

Here we find Jesus urging His listeners and/or readers of His words today to be on watch. In fact, this command to watch and be on guard should carry the greatest importance for all people because it carries with it eternal consequences. It also requires a special vigilance and commitment because of the unpredictable nature of what all people are supposed to watch for, the second coming of Jesus Himself.

Jesus demands that people keep watch because they don’t know the day which Jesus will return to judge the earth. In fact, Jesus implies that it is our responsibility to keep watch just as servants would be if they were given the task to guard the home of their master.

Note that in Luke’s gospel, we find Jesus warning against carousing, drunkenness, and just getting caught up in life’s anxieties in general. He even warns about sleeping beyond what a personal normally needs to function because one might just sleep right through Jesus’ arrival.

Why?

Because all of these things can take away one’s attention from the watching Jesus called them to do.

Note also how Jesus makes the point that everyone will be subject to His judgment when He returns and so His coming will impact all who “live on the face of the whole earth”.

Now, you might say to yourself, “This is an almost impossible job Jesus has given. How can anyone be totally attentive and observant, day in and day out?”

Well, this is why Jesus adds the matter of prayer.

You see, so many things we’re commanded to do in the Bible seem impossible to us and that might be true if we were living and operating by our own devices. But we have a Lord who has assured us, and who has always shown us, that there is nothing impossible with Him. There’s nothing He can’t do on His own and if it’s His will, there’s nothing too big for us to do either when He gives His strength and power to us.

Obviously, it’s Jesus’ will for us to watch and pray because He commands that we do it. And so rest assured, He will provide all of us the strength and power to make sure His will is accomplished. All we need to do is pray, asking for it, and He will deliver.

Friends, Jesus is coming back at a future time unbeknownst to us. He has given us some signs to watch out for, signs that will signal His return is imminent. All we need to do is be careful and watch and pray, allowing the Lord to help us do just that.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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