“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus asked His disciples to “stay here and watch with Me”, but when He returned, He found them asleep and cautioned them “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.
The weapon that Jesus used to overcome was prayer and God’s Word. Jesus’ disciples today must also watch and pray. We are easily distracted by this world, our fleshly needs and desires, and the schemes of the enemy. When we take our eyes from Jesus and His soon return, our values begin to shift, our attention wanders, and soon we are living like the world and bearing little fruit for God’s kingdom . He warned us that we must be ready at any moment to stand before Him and give an account of our lives.
The purpose of this watchfulness and prayer is “that we may be able to escape all that is about to happen.” Jesus has told his disciples about perils from false christs, persecution, and temptations to be unfaithful. Jesus is warning them now as he does in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation” (Luke 22:40, 46).
God intends prayer to be communication with Him to develop a beautiful relationship begun through the acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice. As a product of keeping the relationship alive, we show our commitment by keeping our appointments with Him, upholding the vow we made at baptism, keeping His commandments, showing we are trustworthy by overcoming our sins.
Prayer
Dear Father in heaven, help me live my life watching and praying, living courageously and boldly for you, that on that Day I might stand before the Son of Man without shame. Thank you for your forgiveness and the hope that you place before us to lead us on. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.