Remain Watchful
Request: Lord, open my eyes as I read your word, my ears to hear, my mind to understand, and my heart to be filled with your love.
Read Mark 13:32-37
Record your favorite verse and comment if you want to share.
Respond with a prayer to God
So many of us are busy preparing for this time of year – shopping for Christmas gifts, baking, cooking, etc. We are caught up in the busyness of the season and forget to be hopeful and watching. I am guilty of all of this. I tend to forget that what I truly need to do in this season of hope is to watch and wait with eagerness. It is easy for me to put the study of God’s word at the end of my to-do list. Living as Jesus taught us to live is much more important than the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations. This is a time of hope and a time to be waiting for his return. We will not know when that time will come. As Jesus said, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (vs. 32) This is a time to slow down and focus on what God has done and does for us. We need to understand what God has done for us in the past; take comfort in what he is doing for us in the present and hold on to the hope he has given us for the future – Jesus’ return.
My verse: Mark 13:36-37, “If he comes suddenly do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
God does not expect us to never sleep. We need to have rest to care for ourselves so that we can care for and tell others about Jesus. To live as he has taught us. Mark 13 tells us how to live: do not be misled by false prophets; do not be afraid of persecution, but share the word of God and the good news of Jesus’ return. We need to follow God’s commandments – to be morally alert and to love one another.
My response: Jesus, thank you for your guidance and reminder of what is most important, not only during this season of Advent but every day of our earthly lives. Help me to be watchful each day and rejoice in the hope of your return. Amen.
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Such a good reminder to remain watchful – and not allow the busyness of the season to eclipse the wonder and hope of Advent!
My verse: Mark 13:32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”
My response: I’m amazed by this, Father God. Even Your angels don’t know when You are going to say, ‘Enough” – when King Jesus unleashes the sword and rides that white horse … and the end comes with the ushering in of the new Jerusalem and new earth. All of Your creatures – Your people on earth, the angels in Heaven, even the Son of God when He was on earth – are asked to trust You, to wait in faith and hope for the Day – not knowing when it is. WOW. Even angels don’t know. Father, I do believe You know best when that Day should be. I wait in expectant hope, so thankful that Day will surely come.
Mark 13:37 ESV
[37] And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
https://bible.com/bible/59/mrk.13.37.ESV
Thank you for this reminder to not let busyness rule my day. I needed to hear that this morning as I plan out my day. He is calling me to rest in Him and I am trying to figure out how to maximize my time. I’m altering my plans to spend the day meeting with Jesus and setting my to do list aside.
Savor your time with Him, friend! And may He amaze you with how quickly that to do list gets done … after you’ve spent time with Him.