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Jesus Said Watch
Andrea Lende • May 28, 2021
Mark 13:33
Jesus Said Watch
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Jesus-Said-Watch-e11p9jc
Mark 13:33
“Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come.”
Jesus was talking to just four of His disciples in this passage: Peter, James, John, and Andrew.
He told them that the very building they were standing in would be shaken and torn down.
They asked Him when it would happen.
Jesus spent the entire thirteenth chapter telling them what to be watchful for.
Our verse today stood out to me because Jesus told them to be watchful and pray.
To be constantly on their guard.
I found a different meaning in His words than most would have found.
The word watch is defined in the next four verses as: giving strict attention, being cautious and alert.
This is a nugget of wisdom we cannot ignore.
I think Jesus was telling them to stay spiritually alert and spiritually cautious.
I am convicted here because there are days I just want to not think, escape if you will.
The term veg-out comes to mind.
While we do need to take time to recharge and refresh our bodies, Jesus didn’t allow for spiritual downtime.
A slow-down of spiritual readiness.
His words clearly tell us to be ready, watchful, cautious, and attentive at all times.
When we let our spiritual guard down, we open ourselves up to failure when the enemy attacks.
The attacks will never stop.
We will always be prey for the enemy.
But if we let our spiritual guard down, his attacks have the possibility of being successful.
Jesus tells us to remain watchful four times in the last five verses of chapter thirteen.
Four times!
I started thinking about my children and giving them advice.
When there is something I want them to remember – for sure remember - I tell them over and over and over again.
Jesus did the same.
So, we should not take His words lightly.
If we are compromised and cannot watch and pray for own selves, then it’s time to gather other prayer warriors to pray for us.
We need others to stand in the gap for us.
Today I choose to remain vigilant and watchful in my spiritual walk with the Lord lest I be unprepared and ill-equipped to stand strong in the day of trouble.
May you find the Lord will help you be spiritually strong, attentive, and watchful on all occasions and in all situations.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me a new truth about spiritual strength and readiness. Father, even though my body is tired and weak, please keep my faith strong. Please keep my heart seeking You no matter how I feel. Help me remain vigilant and watchful so I can ward off enemy attacks. Keep Your Word on my mind and in my heart so I can fight with power and might. Raise my awareness of all I need to know to act in wisdom and strength. May You be a lamp unto my feet. Light the path You desire me to follow. Help me be obedient to You in every way, Lord. Do not let my mind or heart become lazy or indifferent. Help me be strong in You, Father. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with you My child and I AM leading and guiding you in all you do.
Response: Help me be vigilant and follow You, Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.