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Theme: God Does Not Forsake His People
Text: “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”. – Luke 21:36.
Comment: It is expected that having “received the knowledge of the truth”, we should be careful to maintain good works, otherwise, one could be said to have received the grace of God in vain. (2 Corinthians 6:1) As such, Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation, gives us in the citation for today, two potent recommendations on how to prove ourselves worthy of obtaining life, i.e. spiritual vigilance and fervency of prayer. Paul, an apostle of his, enjoins us to be “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. – Ephesians 6:18.
To “watch” entails studying the word of God, comparing unfolding events of the age with scriptural prophecies so as not to be “unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:17) St. Peter reiterated the need for prayer when he declared: “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer”. – 1 Peter 4:7.
With the understanding conveyed in verse 34 of Luke chapter 21, one who studies the Bible and is not given to “surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life,” is being vigilant so that day does not come upon such one unawares. Compare Hosea 10:12; see also Matthew 24:42. St. Paul adds, “Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” – 2 Corinthians 2:11.