Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
Presuming or Watching?
Pastor Scott
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
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"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
(Matthew 25:13)
The foolish virgins will stand outside crying just like those that were banging on the door of the ark in Noah's day! These virgins come, cry out, and say to Him, "Lord, Lord, open to us!" He answers, "I know you not." Oh, I wish we'd all been ready. There are no more chances. You can't run to get the oil and come back! You hear these words, but the reality has to be, "What are you doing to prepare yourself?" As you try to be as truthful as you know how to be with your own heart, what really is the priority of your life? You can say all the right words and quote the doctrine. The whole issue is whether you're a doer of the Word or just a hearer and parrot.
"...Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3). How tragic it is for some of us who are not only unprepared but are causing others to stumble! It'd be better for a millstone to be tied around our neck! For those who don't do these things and teach others to be disobedient, there'll be even a greater judgment.
"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." What are we doing to prepare? We have to understand the environment. We have to look around and discern the hour that we're in. "Watch and pray," Jesus said in the garden, "that you enter not into temptation." "Watch therefore," says verse 42 of the 24th chapter, "for ye know not what hour..." "Watch, therefore," says chapter 25, verse 13, "for ye know neither the day nor the hour..." We need to be watching. How many of us are presuming instead of watching? How many of us are living like those in the day of Noah--just going on; just another day; just grinding it out?
The word "watch" means "to be alert, aware, and on guard." Are you just stumbling through life? Are you just going through the routine? It might even be a good routine! You get up in the morning to go through your devotions. You read your "Daily Bread." You've got your little calendar that says to read verses 12 through 16 today, and in 72 years, you'll read your Bible through. Your husband or your parents have you on a routine. But are you watching? Mom and Dad's routine isn't going to have you ready. You must watch and be ready. Your husband's routine isn't going to have you ready! You must love Jesus more than you love your husband, your children, the ease and comfort, and all of the gratification you get out of serving and being recognized.
You need to return to your first love if you're going to be ready when that trumpet sounds and the voice of the Bridegroom is heard. Oh, I wish we'd all been ready. "Lord, Lord, open to us!" "I never knew you." "But we did miracles. You did miracles in our streets. We went and preached in Your name." "I never knew you." Watch, for you know not what hour your Lord comes.