Luke 21:36 Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass… I. ITS PECULIAR CHARACTER. The very quintessence of all faith; the very reason why faith is necessary for the true life. The soul in which burns the light of faith looks forward, and by looking forward is helped to step forward, expecting some strange yet true results. The will is strengthened to assert itself, sometimes on ventures which appear without foundation, but which are based upon the reality of what is to come. So the Christian can go forward with confidence and security. 1. From the call of Abraham to the present day, the supreme attitude of God's children has been that of expectancy. 2. Just as the Israelites looked for the first coming of the Messiah, so Christians look for the second coming in power and great glory. II. THE ESSENTIAL BENEFITS OF WATCHING. 1. It is a power which, though often latent and unobserved, is still a power of incalculable force. The unknown reserve of spiritual influence which lies at the root of the sincerely Christian character. 2. The watcher is always ready. No haziness about life, or uncertainty about its aims. (Anon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. |
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