BE ALWAYS ON THE WATCH AND PRAY

Passage: Luke 21:29-38

Key verse: 36

NIV

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God(A) is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation(B) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(C)

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,(D) and that day will close on you suddenly(E) like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray(F) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,(G) and each evening he went out(H) to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,(I) 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.(J)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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ESV

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see (A)for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 (B)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 (C)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (D)my words will not pass away.

Watch Yourselves

34 “But watch yourselves (E)lest (F)your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and (G)cares of this life, and (H)that day come upon you suddenly (I)like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But (J)stay awake at all times, (K)praying that you may (L)have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and (M)to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 And (N)every day he was teaching in the temple, but (O)at night he went out and lodged on (P)the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning (Q)all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus does not want us to see the world negatively and despair at what is happening but have prophetic insight to see the world from God’s point of view, for the kingdom of God is near. As Jesus promised, he will surely come, though we don’t know when. So, we must be careful not to let our hearts be weighed down by the anxiety of life and fleeting pleasures of the world, for the day will come suddenly like a trap. Jesus wants us to be spiritually alert and ready for his second coming.

It is easy to take Jesus’ warning lightly and become complacent. Jesus says, “Be always on the watch and pray” so that we may be accounted worthy to escape God’s judgment and stand before Jesus. Jesus spent his last days by teaching the word at the temple every day and spent the night the Mount of Olives. People came to the temple early in the morning to hear the word of God from Jesus. Learning the word of God like the people and teaching the word of God like Jesus can be an effective way to watch and pray as we wait for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Learning and teaching the word of God enables us to stand before Jesus by overcoming the world.

Prayer: Lord, grant us spiritual insight to see the world from God’s point of view and enable us to watch and pray, waiting for our Lord’s second coming.

One Word: Watch and pray!