The New Testament often tells us to “watch.” What are we supposed to be watching for?
Watching is about living each day with a sense of urgency, eagerly anticipating the Lord’s return while actively participating in His work in the present. The instruction to watch signifies a spiritual state of vigilance, and it is used in several ways. In some occurrences, the instruction includes more than one of these areas. Hence the reference texts sometimes appear in more than one place in the list below. Let’s look briefly at each of these.
Watch because you do not know the time of the Lord’s return: Mark 13:33-37; Matthew 24:42; 25:13; Luke 12:35-48; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11; Revelation 3:1-6.
Jesus emphasized the importance of being ready for His return at any moment. He compared it to a master returning at an unexpected hour or a thief coming in the night. Jesus also mentioned signs that would indicate the end times, urging His disciples to be attentive to their fulfillment. The parable of the ten virgins highlights the need for spiritual preparedness, ensuring that our lamp is filled with oil, representing a close relationship with God and the Holy Spirit.
Watch for physical or spiritual dangers and temptations: 1 Peter 5:8; Mark 13:9; 14:34-38; Matthew 26:38, 40-41; Luke 21:36; Acts 20:28-32.
Believers are warned to be watchful against the enemy, the devil, who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV). This vigilance extends to recognizing and resisting temptations, guarding against deception, and being aware of the subtle schemes of the enemy.
Watch (or examine) our spiritual condition: Luke 12:35-48; 21:36; Acts 20:28-32; Colossians 4:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11; Revelation 3:1-6.
Watching includes examining our hearts and minds to identify areas susceptible to temptation or spiritual apathy. It means diligent obedience to God’s instructions, ensuring that our life aligns with His Word, not for salvation but rather because of our new nature in Christ.
Watch for opportunities to do ministry and evangelism: Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 12:35-48; 1 Corinthians 16:13-18; Colossians 4:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11; 2 Timothy 4:5.
The believer is to always be alert to opportunities God provides to share the love of Christ and the saving message of the gospel. This involves building relationships with non-Christians that allow us to share the gospel, initiating spiritual conversations with both unsaved and other believers, and serving others in Christ’s name in the Church, in the community, and around the world.
Watching is a call to active spiritual engagement in our walk with Christ throughout our life. It requires a mindset of awareness, readiness, and deliberate action in our life choices. It’s about living each day with a sense of eagerness and readiness, anticipating His return while being actively engaged in our heavenly kingdom assignment. Every activity of the believer contributes to that assignment (Colossians 3:18-25). Let us watch that we always walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh.
— Elder Chip Hinds
