Keep Watch
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 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 13:32-37 NIV
What does it mean to be watchful?
If you’re anything like me, you might have read passages like Mark 13:32-37 with a sense of duty or fear. I mean, Revelation 16:15 says He’s coming like a thief in the night, which, to me sounded kinda scary, to be honest! The Word was warning me with such urgency, but I couldn’t quite understand just what it meant. It’s like reading instructions with a warning label in a foreign language! Clearly it’s of the utmost importance, but… what does it mean?
Last night, I was watching The Chosen, and I began to ponder the fact that generations of Jews had been preparing, praying, and looking forward to the Messiah’s coming. It was real to them, even though many died before seeing that promise fulfilled. When He came, many didn’t recognize Him, and to those who did, He looked totally different than they had expected.
Can you imagine? Seeing our Jesus in the flesh? Watching His facial expressions and idiosyncrasies? Hearing the tone of His voice with our actual ears? Wrapping our arms around the Son of God? It must have been glorious. Sometimes I envy them, even though we have the greatest privilege to actually house the Holy Spirit within us. I know He is always near, but I am so excited for the day that I get to see Him fully.
That’s when it hit me! This is what it means to be watchful; always searching for His face and EAGERLY AWAITING the return of Messiah! We get to relate to the Jewish people of old, before Jesus was born, but now we look toward the second coming instead of the first. Keeping my lamp burning means excitedly anticipating the day that WILL come, with full assurance. I don’t know about you, but I get butterflies, like a bride awaiting her groom.
Watching and praying means always being on alert, awake, and focused. To me, the greatest way of accomplishing this is through the secret place. It is there we can discern God’s will and look for the thing He is doing in the earth today. I no longer look at this exhortation with fear of failing or anxiety, but with expectant joy. Although there is much more revelation to be had concerning Jesus’ call to watch and pray, I know that I want to be found awake and ready on that day! And if that day comes after I die, I want to live each day looking forward, seeking His face.
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” -Luke 12:35-40 NIV
-Hunter Smith
January 12, 2022
What does it mean to be watchful?
If you’re anything like me, you might have read passages like Mark 13:32-37 with a sense of duty or fear. I mean, Revelation 16:15 says He’s coming like a thief in the night, which, to me sounded kinda scary, to be honest! The Word was warning me with such urgency, but I couldn’t quite understand just what it meant. It’s like reading instructions with a warning label in a foreign language! Clearly it’s of the utmost importance, but… what does it mean?
Last night, I was watching The Chosen, and I began to ponder the fact that generations of Jews had been preparing, praying, and looking forward to the Messiah’s coming. It was real to them, even though many died before seeing that promise fulfilled. When He came, many didn’t recognize Him, and to those who did, He looked totally different than they had expected.
Can you imagine? Seeing our Jesus in the flesh? Watching His facial expressions and idiosyncrasies? Hearing the tone of His voice with our actual ears? Wrapping our arms around the Son of God? It must have been glorious. Sometimes I envy them, even though we have the greatest privilege to actually house the Holy Spirit within us. I know He is always near, but I am so excited for the day that I get to see Him fully.
That’s when it hit me! This is what it means to be watchful; always searching for His face and EAGERLY AWAITING the return of Messiah! We get to relate to the Jewish people of old, before Jesus was born, but now we look toward the second coming instead of the first. Keeping my lamp burning means excitedly anticipating the day that WILL come, with full assurance. I don’t know about you, but I get butterflies, like a bride awaiting her groom.
Watching and praying means always being on alert, awake, and focused. To me, the greatest way of accomplishing this is through the secret place. It is there we can discern God’s will and look for the thing He is doing in the earth today. I no longer look at this exhortation with fear of failing or anxiety, but with expectant joy. Although there is much more revelation to be had concerning Jesus’ call to watch and pray, I know that I want to be found awake and ready on that day! And if that day comes after I die, I want to live each day looking forward, seeking His face.
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” -Luke 12:35-40 NIV
-Hunter Smith
January 12, 2022
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