Take heed, watch, pray and keep doing God’s work
Mark 13:32-33(AMP) But of that [exact] day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone. “Be on guard and stay constantly alert [and pray]; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.Mark 13:32-33(NKJV) “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.Jesus commanded His disciples to do four things: 1. Take heed2. Watch3. Pray4. Keep doing God’s work!1. Take heed, Mark 13:5(NKJV) And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. Mark 13:9(NKJV) “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. Mark 13:23(NKJV) But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.2. Watch – Watch means to stay wide awake. 1 Corinthians 16:13(NKJV) Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Romans 13:11(NKJV) And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.Matthew 26:41(NIV) “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”It is spiritual watching coupled with prayer that gives one the strength to survive temptations and difficult situations.1 Peter 5:8(NIV) Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.3. PrayCommitted to prayer, we can stay true to our faith. Through prayer, we let God forgive us, cleanse us, teach us, and give us the strength to follow Him. To stay alert and focused, we need to pray for the strength to keep going and to avoid distractions.1 Thessalonians 5:17(ESV) pray without ceasing.John 14:14(ESV) If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.4. Keep doing the work of GodJohn 6:28-29(NIV) Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”The word believe, can also be translated to entrust. Jesus said that God’s work is to believe and entrust Him with your life. Only then will God’s work be done.Luke 9:23(NIV) Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”To deny yourself means to give up your will, your choice, and your way to the Lord’s will. The only time your will glorifies God is when it is wholly surrendered to the will of the Father. Focus all your attention on pursuing Him and simply being open to what He wants. You’ll notice that opportunities to serve God will come to you, and you will see God bear fruit in unique ways.I conclude that the more time we spend in God’s presence, the more we are transformed into His image, filled with His Spirit, and dependent upon Him, we will fulfil His will.