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Watch and Pray "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Mark 13.37 Our Lord, when teaching his disciples, placed much stress on watchfulness. He taught it by direct exhortation, illustrated it by several parables and practised it in his life to such an extent that if the question were put to us, when shall we watch? We must reply, Always, every moment of consciousness. The standard set up by a review of our Lord's example and teaching on this matter is exceedingly high; indeed it seems there is nothing more difficult for a Christian to practice. Regarding watchfulness from a general aspect, it is usual to associate it with ourselves alone, but the Bible assures us that God, the angels, and Satan, all watch. There is also the special prerogative to be exercised by those whose privilege it is to serve the Church, besides the general watchfulness of the whole Church in respect of the Lord's return, which in practice is an individual matter for each one of us. God Watches. This is the all important thing. Is He watching over and for us? The Psalmist says in Psalm 127.1. "Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" and the principle holds good whether it be a city or an individual. Is He our Father? Can we go to Him and claim a Father's protecting care? If so, we need not fear. Psalm 121 is full of God's loving care for Israel, "He watching over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps." If He took such an interest in them, how much more does He watch over us who are recognised as being in Christ, personally represented before Him by his own beloved Son? This psalm alone will furnish material for much thought and comfort. God is represented there as our protector, the preserver of our soul, and as keeping us in the way of life, never for one moment relaxing His vigilance. We may stumble, but He knows and seeks to restore us. We may forget Him, but He remains faithful. We may go astray but He will never leave us or forsake us unless we wilfully reject Him. In 1 Cor.10.13 we are assured of God's watchfulness in the matter of our temptation. He is watchful to see that we are not tried beyond our capacity; there is always a way of escape. Jesus time and again bade His disciples to watch, and not only so, but He left minute instructions regarding watchfulness. It is His counsel for the whole of our spiritual life. Why did He lay so much stress upon it? Undoubtedly it was the fruit of His own experience; He had realised it all through His earthly career. He examined everything that was presented to Him, having the Father's will pre-eminently before His mind. On the eve of His death He urged His disciples repeatedly to watch and pray; even in the dreadful ordeal of the garden of Gethsemane it was upon His mind. It seems as though in spite of all His personal suffering one great object was before Him, if by any means He might give them the full benefit of His experience and teach them the necessity of meeting trial and temptation by watchfulness and prayer. When He was face to face with the crisis of His life, when it might reasonably be expected that He would be concerned only with His own need, we find Him rising from his knees, going to His disciples and finding them asleep and waking them, saying, "Could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." He forgot Himself desiring only to help them to meet their comparatively light temptations with the same weapon as had brought Him success. No human sympathy could be found for Him, but for them the love and sympathy of the Son of God was expressed in the most practical manner at the very time He was longing for theirs. With what regard then we should seek to watch and carefully consider what it cost Him to help us. In season and out of season to Himself, He ceased not to warn us. Watchfulness was not given as a command, or as a piece of advice such as a parent might give his son when starting out in the world, but as the last word of love to those for whom He was about to give His life; His dying wish. Does not this enthuse us and make us wish to examine His words again and respond to them to the very best of our ability? We cannot watch continually without a living motive to sustain us; it would be too arduous, too wearying, but when love demands it what is there too hard? If we really loved Him as much as we love some of those around us we should delight in Him more than we do, and we should find His yoke easy and His burden light. If we desire to love Him better, our prayers will continually express that desire, and He will reveal Himself to us. Then we shall see things in a new light; place fresh values on everything, and in Christ become overcomers. Watchfulness is love in action. Watchfulness pre-supposes vigilance, wakefulness, to take heed, to observe. It implies keenness, placing duty to the Lord above every other. It is always coupled with prayer. We have already seen that God must watch for us, otherwise it is useless for us to watch. Jesus said, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." Paul in Col.4.2. speaks in the same strain, and, like Jesus, his last words to Timothy included an exhortation to be watchful in all things. (2 Tim.4.5). How can we be delivered from entering into temptation, seeing that we are surrounded by it, and even more, seeing that it comes from within also? Here lies the reason for prayer; watchfulness alone would not save us, or we should attribute overcoming to our own strength. As we are fallen by nature how can we watch against evil in our own strength? So He bids us pray, taking our joys, temptations, trials, victories and failures to Him that we might remember that all our ways are ordered of the Lord. What room is there for the selfish counsel our hearts would dictate? What opportunity is there for the Adversary's suggestions to take root if we watch our thoughts, words and conduct by applying the principles of the Word to them and seek His blessing and guidance continually? Why should we not lift up our hearts to God in mental prayer at any time, wherever we are, whatever we are doing? There is a tremendous power latent in that. The Scriptures show also that Satan watches, and the Apostle in 1 Pet.5.8. tells us that we are to be sober, vigilant and watchful that we may resist him, steadfast in the faith. James tells us that if we resist him he will flee from us, and our Lord said, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." The watchfulness of Satan may be defeated by being vigilant ourselves. If we do not watch there is the possibility of being devoured. In Rev.3.1-5, the Church at Sardis was exhorted to watch and
strengthen the things that remain, and some were specially commended because
they had kept their garments pure. This is to be the aim and object of
watchfulness. If we fail to watch to keep ourselves pure we shall be judged and
found wanting in an hour when we think not. Have we set our hearts on being with
Him and being accounted worthy? Then let us watch and not let our garments be
defiled by anything impure either from within or without. Let us set ourselves
this daily task for love of Him who will not be ashamed to confess our names
before God and His holy angels Teach us in watchfulness and prayer |
