Mark 13:37

New International Version

What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

For Meditation

His grandpa had promised him his first wristwatch for Christmas, and he couldn’t wait. The day before Christmas, Kofi, wanting to make sure his hard-of-hearing grandpa did not forget his promise, asked to say the prayer.

“Lord, thank you for this meal and reminders of promises. You promised to return for us one day, and at a time we do not expect. As you told your disciples, I say to everyone at this table, WATCH!” I think the Oldman got the point.

The little boy referenced Jesus’s parable of the Master who traveled and their assigned responsibilities to all his servants and asked them to be diligent and keep watch until he came back (Mark 13:35-37). They were to ensure He would meet them ready and accomplished. His admonishment to watch implied being mindful of the dangers and challenges ahead of them.

Our Lord of the church has gone into heaven and has apportioned responsibilities to us, His disciples. He will come back for His church any time without notice—the day and time are unknown to anyone. What will happen if Jesus should come now, this hour, minute, or second? Will He find us spiritually negligent or diligent in our assigned tasks—righteous living, service, evangelism, personal witnessing, and much more? It calls for constant vigilance and faithfulness to duty, much prayer, and renewal of our minds in His word.

We, too, could be like the grandpa of that little boy. The stresses of this world could deafen us to spiritual things. That is not the condition the Lord wants to meet us when He returns, and that is the need to be watchful. Peter, James, and John slept when they failed to watch and pray with Christ in Gethsemane. (Mk. 14:32-42).

So, hear the shout of the little boy to you this today: WATCH!