The Seriousness of not being Watchful

The cost of not being watchful is so incredibly high. It’s something not often talked about in the church, because it doesn’t make for a very pleasant conversation, and every person who is genuine about their depravity knows they could fail at any given moment. But let us remember how high the stakes are so that we are pressed to  "keep watching and praying"(Col. 4:2). 

David stopped keeping watch for one evening which led to his greatest failure, and consequences that echoed through the entire kingdom. Peter was commanded specifically to watch and pray that he would not fall into temptation, and he could not, and to his deep sorrow denied His Lord three times. 

Keep watch, pay attention. Set your mind on things above. Set safeguards. Stay engaged in doing good, wear yourself out for the work of the ministry, so that your mind is not idle. David was not with his men at war where he should have been; he was on his rooftop looking around, which is possibly the equivalent of us lounging around watching Netflix instead of engaging with our children, or praying, or being in the Word. 

And here is the scarier part; it’s not just about you. So often we think about the consequences of sin for ourselves, which is good to reflect on. Sometimes we think about the pain it causes our Father, which is a better thought. But consider also the pain and the damage it causes to those around us. Whether it is a sin of omission like not teaching your kids the Word consistently, or a sin of commission that has visible, natural consequences, others pay the price as much as you do. If you love them, if you love Him, you will be watchful.