Sermon Galatians 4: 4-7

Sermon 12/30/07 “Who’s Your Daddy” Galatians 4: 4-7

 

     She was everything he had dreamed of, no that’s not true, she was more than what he had dreamed of. They had been dating for some time and had so much in common, they were perfect for each other. Every moment was gold, every date perfect, they laughed, joked, were serious, even cried together. It was one of those rare matches but from the beginning he knew there was more to it than just the two of them.

     You see, there was a son, a little boy who had his Mom’s eyes and smile. What about this little stranger, could it be possible to love someone enough to commit to live with them. Now, his Mom no problem that was mutual but what kind of relationship would develop here? There were barriers and obstacles. The man and the boy were captive to the authority of a third party, a biological dad who had never really been in the picture but exerting presence just the same, even if only in name. The two were held captive; they were forced to remain strangers, held at arms length.

     The big day came, no not the wedding day, that was incredible but it wasn’t the big day in either the man or the woman’s lives. You see they had chosen and were given each other. But on this particular day, the man stood before a towering, polished wood desk of a judge.

     The same black robed judge who until this day was only known to the man for dealing out punishment, edicts, and law. But this day, the judge’s face was different, it was smiling and satisfied. The obstacles had been faced, the walls had been removed and the barriers addressed, now this judge would determine the fate of the boy and the man.

     The judge had given the child an advocate, one who looked at the entire situation, considered every option and would appeal to the judge on behalf the boy, a representative to deal with the obstacles and walls. This barrister took the stand and after fulfilling all that was needed gave worthiness to the man. Then the judge with all the formal proceedings known to the office, pronounced the boy free from the captivity of the one who didn’t care, the one who had only caused pain, the one who was forced to relinquish all rights. With a wave of his hand he pronounced the man free to be a father… a daddy and the boy to be a son.

 

NIV  ⁴But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, ⁵to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. ⁶Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

 

     Paul begins this letter to a group of people whom he really loved, a group of people in an area of the world known as Galatia. This letter was in response to news that had come to him. We learn in this short note that when he was in Galatia he had been desperately ill; these folks had taken him in and cared for him. That what Paul’s doorway, his unique opportunity to present the gospel to them, which they readily accepted.

     They received this gift of grace by faith and assurance that they could never earn it only accept it. There sins were paid for by the very blood of Jesus. They were justified completely, the penalty gone. They had been made totally new, transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, regenerated. And amazingly, they were adopted into the family of God. When Paul presented this to the Galatians they believed it completely. So do we, this is actually one of our, the Church of the Nazarene’s, statements of faith.

 

Article of Faith IX.

     We believe that justification is the gracious and judicial act of God by which He grants full pardon of all guilt and complete release from the penalty of sins committed, and acceptance as righteous, to all who believe on Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior.

     We believe that regeneration, or the new birth, is that gracious work of God whereby the moral nature of the repentant believer is spiritually quickened and given a distinctively spiritual life, capable of faith, love and obedience.

     We believe that adoption is that gracious act of God by which the justified and regenerated believer is constituted a son of God.

     We believe that justification, regeneration, and adoption are simultaneous in the experience of seekers after God and are obtained upon the condition of faith, preceded by repentance; and that to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.

 

     God used Paul and this example of adoption to let us know just how far this grace stuff goes. The Lord is not just lending us a hand, just being a good God, He is literally making us an equal part of His family.

     In this letter an event was happening, some of the people in Galatia had a background in the Jewish faith. They had been taught that by virtue of their birth and the fact that God had communicated with Jewish people through the centuries like Abraham and Moses they weren’t a slave to sin. They had been given the very law of God, what was meant to be a guide they had made into salvation. They had taken these rules and made them the remedy for sin. They carried this belief system into this new church in Galatia and they began to weave these requirements with the new Christians around them. Now these new Christians had come out of pagan culture and had no idea what they needed to do. So when these people or Paul calls them Judaizers said, “You must do this, this and this to be a Christian, they believed them and submitted. These new Christians were simply going from a being a slave to sin, to being a slave to rules. Paul tells them, “That is bologna.”

     All of them and all of us, regardless of background, must have faith to receive the grace, in other words they had to have a relationship with God. They had to begin thinking of him as a real Dad. They had to begin thinking of themselves as part of a family.

     So we take this two thousand year old scripture and I am tempted to say, “so what, no body is running around here trying to get us to keep the all the laws we find in Leviticus, so how does this apply us in 2007? Then the Lord begins to tap me on the shoulder and say, “Just a minute here, let’s look at it a little deeper.” That forces me and us to ask… could there be people today, who have been raised in a Christian home; been part of a church; been taught well; done all the right things; said all the right words but still be a slave? Only see God as a judge? Know exactly how church is supposed to work? We know exactly how “saved” people are suppose to behave, dress, talk and walk, rather than depend upon God’s grace poured freeing to us and to them.

     Could it be that there are people here, at this very moment, who are going to church and doing everything they know to do to be good but still be a slave?  They work in the church, or in a host of great help organizations and serve others, doing, doing, doing, and have never grasped… that it is by faith through grace that we know God and call him Daddy? Could it be they only know God in the sense of a Master/Servant relationship? Trying so hard to please, instead of just taking time to be with Him and others.

     Could it be that there are people sitting in this very place, thinking that because they are here and really aren’t bad people that’s good enough. Never realizing God must be Papa, up close and personal, and we are the dependent child, loving, trusting. It’s not about what you do or don’t do, it’s about who you know.  Could it be there are some who have never talked to him intimately, never touched His face? Keeping him separate from sections of their lives, keeping him distant, at arms length? When God is “Dad” it means we crawl up into his lap, listen to what he has to say, lay our head on his shoulder.

     As the man and the boy were brought together under the binding word of a judge, they looked into each other’s eyes. The small hand reached up and took the strong hand of the man and the relationship went from uncertainty to certainty; from one of hesitation to one of confidence. That day the father and son, better know to us as Patrick and Mike Thompson walked out of the courthouse as united, legal, binding family.  No longer captive to a third party, fearful of what the future might hold.

By this adoption they were free to do life together.

     As we end this year and an era of this church we can start with total freedom. Not following the rules, or serving in an attempt to please or here Sunday after Sunday but never really connecting to God. We really can place our hand into the mighty hand of God, understanding He has adopted us? God Eternal has brought us into His household, His family, made us heirs to all that is His. Let me repeat that one and may you take it deep within you. This relationship with the Lord can be certain, confident, complete, whole, free, no restraints, no hesitation, no faltering, or wavering given by Jesus Christ… our advocate. Our advocate who looked at the entire situation, considered every option, satisfied the judge, our representative who fulfilled all that was required and gave worthiness us. Jesus Christ with whom we are now co-heirs with, a family. And we are free to do life together with God.

 

Study Galatians 4: 4-7

Hello Everyone,

I trust you all had a Merry Christmas!! We had a great time at our house, over the course of the week-end each of our adult children, dear friends and our grandchildren spent time together. There was much food, laughter, gift giving and praising God for His gift of Jesus.I haven’t sent out a Bible study in a few weeks. This is the study for the text I will be preaching this Sunday. May the Lord speak to all of us through it.

Many Blessings, Nancy

Galatians 4: 4-7

THE MESSAGE   ^{4 -7}But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.

NIV  ⁴But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, ⁵to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. ⁶Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

KJV  ⁴But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The Letters (Epistles) of the New Testament

      If you went into someone else’s home and started reading their mail, what kind of response do you think you might receive? It might not be very nice…

       When we are reading the epistles of the New Testament (Galatians being one) we really are reading other people’s mail. While this is true there is no evidence that these letters were intended for only the original recipients; there were intended to be passed around and read by all, us included. But we must remember we are reading a letter. In these documents we will find timeless truths but we will also find specific information to a specific people at a specific place in a specific time. Therefore, these letters in the New Testament demand that we know as much as possible about both the sender’s and the recipient’s lives. When reading the epistles of the Bible for personal growth it requires more background information than some of the other genres of the Bible.

    Here are some GREAT guidelines for being spiritually formed by any of the New Testament letters.

1.      Read the whole epistle in one sitting to get the big idea of the letter and its main contours.

2.      Think in terms of the paragraphs being the main units of thought. BEWARE of isolating verses from the context of their paragraph!!!

3.      Do some background reading in order to understand better the letter’s main concerns and its historical and cultural setting.

    No part of the Bible seems so directly applicable as these letters. The struggles of the early church and its community are still very much the struggles today. Playing with Fire by Walt Russell

 

Galatians

     By the middle of the first century, although the early Christian movement was still connected to Judaism, and increasing number of its members were Gentiles (non-Jew). The relationship between these new, non-Jewish converts and Jewish Christians, became an issue of importance. One crucial issue concerned the status of the Law of Moses. Should Gentile Christians convert to Judaism in the process of becoming Christians? The letter to the Galatians gives Paul’s view of this controversy. The letter is Paul’s defense of his Gentile mission as a whole and the particular understand of the law on which it is based.

   The exact date of the letter’s composition is not known, but it was written presumably some time between the late 40 and 50 A.D. The address of this letter are “the churches in Galatia” (1: 2), a Roman province in central Asia Minor where, according to Acts, Paul preached. (Acts 13: 14- 14: 23; 16: 6; 18: 23).

 

4: 1-5  As I was researching I found a great explanation of this particular passage by Bob Deffinbaugh in an article entitled “The Inferiority of Immaturity.” I’ve copied it below.

    In chapter 3 Paul has established, on biblical and theological grounds, the superiority of grace over law, of receiving the blessings of God through faith as opposed to the curse which comes through the works of the Law. He now seeks to illustrate and apply this truth by turning to a well-known practice in the ancient world, that of an heir coming of age, so as to enjoy all that he has legally possessed, but which has been beyond his personal control.             Here Paul refers to a Roman legal process, well known to himself and his readers. According to Roman law, the heir was under the control of a tutor until the age of 14. This tutor was named by the father and placed in his will. From the age of 14 until the heir was 25, he was under a curator, at least sometimes named by the father. The tutor and the curator were not necessarily intended to be synonymous with Paul’s “guardians” and “managers” (4:2). It may be that the “guardian” was in charge of the child, while the “manager” was in control of the assets of the child. When the heir reached the age of 25 (or the age stipulated by the father), he then entered into the full privileges of his possession. Until that time, the heir was in the frustrating predicament of legally owning his father’s inheritance without actually enjoying its possession.                                                                         Our legal system places an estate in the hands of a trustee until the child reaches legal age, with a certain amount of funds provided during childhood as established by the father. We can hardly imagine the confinement of the “heir” of Paul’s day who had someone to tell him what to do and not to do and another to spend his money for him. The restrictions on the heir of ancient times were far greater. Can you imagine what it must have been like for a young man to be, as it were, a millionaire, and yet not be able to do as he wanted with this money? For all intents and purposes, the heir was no different from the slave, for he received only what the “guardians” and “managers” determined to give him (4:1).                            In verses 3-5, Paul makes the analogy to the status of the Jews who lived under the Law. The “heir” under Roman law had legal ownership of his father’s wealth; he did not actually possess it or enjoy it. So too the Jews had the promises of God to Abraham, yet they were not yet realized or enjoyed. Just as the Roman “heir” was under the dictates of the appointed “tutor” and “curator,” the Israelite was under the Law, with all of its restrictions and mediators. The time for both preparatory periods to end was established by the father. For the “heir,” it was the age determined by the Roman law or specified by the father. For the believer, the Law’s tutelage ended at the appointed time when the Father determined for the Son to be sent to the earth to redeem mankind.                Paul seems to speak specifically here of the Jews as implied by the term “we” in verse 3, which is paralleled in verse 5 by “those under the Law.” Christ was sent to the earth as one “born of a woman” (4:4). This was necessary to fulfill the promise of Genesis 3: 15. And was a necessary part of the incarnation, so that Christ could die for man as man. In addition, Christ was born “under the Law” (4:4) so that He was able to bear the curse of the Law to enable men to receive the blessings which God promised to Abraham’s offspring (2:13-14). The “adoption as sons” (4:5) is that enjoyment of the promises of God to Abraham, and the passing from the restrictions and confinement of the Law to the fullness and freedom of grace.

Galatians 4: 6-7     Paul has previously taught that sonship has not only come to the Jews but also to the Gentiles. While the particulars are not identical, the process of the Gentiles coming to faith is similar to that of the Jews, and thus similar to the analogy of the “heir” under Roman law which Paul has given in verses 1 and 2. In verses 6-11 Paul compares the sonship of the Gentiles to that of the Jews, stressing the foolishness of seeking to place themselves under the Law as the Judaizers urged. In verse 6 Paul broadens his reference to the benefits of sonship which belong to the Gentile Galatian Christians. The “you” (4:6) refers specifically to the Galatians just as the “we” (4:3,5) referred to the Jews. The evidence of sonship is the ministry of the Holy Spirit, which causes us to respond and relate to God as Father. This ministry of the Spirit was not present under the Law in the Old Testament. Since the Galatian Christians possessed the Holy Spirit (cf. 3:1-5), the spirit of adoption (4:6; Rom. 8:15-17), they were just as certain of their sonship as the Jewish saints. Since they were sons, they could no longer be slaves. Better still, they were also “heirs” of the promises to Abraham (4:7).

 

Prayer Study 1

Lesson 1 – Breath Prayer

     I am pleasantly surprised at the response of so many to want to deepen their prayer life. Here’s what I’d like to do, weekly there will be a teaching then each of us is to practice that teaching, journal on it. Then individually we will, through email, talk about how that particular prayer practice is affecting us. Of course, there may be a week for me or you where a crisis happens (by the way busy-ness is not a crisis nor an excuse) where I am unable to get the study out or you cannot participate. If that happens we’ll just trust the Lord that He knew we needed more time for whatever exercise was the week before.

     This is not a head activity, this is a heart activity. That means you can’t just read these emails and do NOTHING… If I read all about J. but never get intimate with him our marriage will soon be in trouble! We can know all there is to know about Jesus but not know Jesus and soon be in trouble! Prayer is giving all of oneself to God through Christ by the Spirit.

     Lord, I am so inadequate for this task. Your disciples asked You to teach them to pray and You did so. Now, these precious brothers and sisters ask the same of me. I really can’t do this without you, so please help me, guide me and impart to them you sweet Spirit that when none of us know what to say, the Holy Spirit cries out for us. We beg this in Jesus name. Amen.

     Starting points – Begin a journal. Yes, you can keep it simple (please do). It can be a school spiral notebook or whatever. No, you don’t have to do it everyday, but I do ask that you would make an entry once a week (at least while we are learning something new) AND anytime the Lord really speaks to you. I will be using as a resource the book “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook” by Adele Calhoun (don’t let the title scare you). J As well as my own personal walk, experience and whatever grain of insight the Lord has given me. If the lesson during any particular week is a means of prayer you are already using. Then continue to do so, sharing your insights with me and if not intensely private I will share with the others. We want to learn from each other. I do want to assure you anything really private will not pass through me.

     Prayer is a word that describes a relationship. It is a dialog with God. Prayer is not a duty it is a desire to connect and grow in intimacy with the Trinity. There are multiple ways of entering into prayer. We will work on a variety of different types of prayer, we will discuss them then practice them with one of the exercises listed with each prayer. Some exercises may not appeal to you but please practice at least one of them anyway. After a week of practice we’ll talk about them again.

 

Breath Prayer

     Breathing is an unconscious thing and breath prayer reminds us that just as we can’t live on one breath, we can’t live on one breath of God. God is the oxygen of our soul, and we need to breathe him in all day long. Breath prayer reminds us that each breath we are given is God’s gift and that God’s Spirit is nearer to us than our own breath. This is a type of prayer you can do many, many times a day to keep you focused and aware of God’s presence.

     Breath prayer (or sometimes called “prayer of the heart”) has been practiced in the church for over one thousand years. The Eastern Orthodox Church in particular has seen breath prayer as a way of living out Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing.”

Examples of Breath Prayers

Breathe in “Abba,” breathe out “I belong to You.”

Breathe in “Healer,“ breath out “speak the word and I shall be healed.”

Breathe in “Shepherd“ breath out “bring home my lost son, friend, etc.”

Breathe in “Holy One“ breath out “keep me true.”

Breathe in “Lord,“ breath out “here I am.”

Breathe in “Lord Jesus“ breath out “have mercy on me.” (This one is known as the “Jesus prayer”) or sometimes done breathe in “Lord Jesus Christ” breath out “have mercy on me a sinner.”

Before you begin the exercises below write these questions in your journal and answer them. Then choose one of the Breath prayers from above or create your own and write it in your journal.

1. How do you currently practice the injunction from the Apostle Paul to pray without ceasing?
2. How does the thought of repetitive prayer strike you?

Exercises (Chose one)

1. Become comfortable. Breathe deeply. Intentionally place yourself before God. In rhythm with your breathing, gratefully inhale the breath of life. Exhale remembering that Jesus gave his last breath of love for you. Gently and thankfully repeat one of the breath prayers… Done, it takes one minute. Now you understand why you can do this multiple times per day. Practice it though out the day.
2. Decide to pray the Jesus prayer or which ever one you use as often as you are able in one day. If you worry about forgetting, set a clock or your cell phone every hour to remind you.

Personal things I done which have helped me with this particular prayer…

I practice breath prayer when I’m driving, currently I am using the Jesus Prayer.

I have a really good friend who is battling cancer. There are times when I cry out to God for longer periods of time for her. But I last spring I began using the breath prayer of … Breathe in “Healer,“ breath out “speak the word and Susan shall be healed”… it really helped me pray persistently and constantly for her.

Sometimes I practice this when I am confined to a waiting room or at Sonic waiting on my food J, it can be used anywhere, silently or out loud.

     Lord, I ask that you would help each of us pray continually, giving you thanks in all circumstances. In the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.

Resource: Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

 

Study Matthew 24: 36-44

BS Matthew 24: 36-44

Before we even look at this scripture we must learn terminology, for some it will be new and to others old hat, BUT it is necessary to understand this passage.

Apocalyptic Literature – A type of Jewish and Christian religious writing that means “revelation” or “unveiling” and is applied to writing that contains alleged revelation of the secret purposes of God, the end of the world, and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. NIV Bible Dictionary

Apocalyptic literature typically includes a number of concepts: 1) time is divided into two ages – the present age is ruled by Satan, the age to come will be ruled by God, the transition will occur very quickly, the end of the present age will happen in the very near future, the transition will include wars, plagues, famine, earthquakes and other natural disasters. 2) There will be a general resurrection of the dead. 3) There will be a final judgment. 4) Satan’s supporters will be annihilated. 5) God’s supporters will enter a period of peace and happiness. We find Apocalyptic Literature in both the Old and New Testament. In the Old it is found interspersed in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Micah and Daniel. In the New Testament we find it in Mark, Matthew, Luke and Revelation. Paul does touch on the subject matter in 1 Corinthians 15: 20-28; 2 Corinthians 5: 1-3; 1 Thess 4: 15-18; and 2 Thess 2: 1-12. Internet - 11/27/07 “Religious Tolerance.org http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_ntb5a.htm

NIV    ³⁶"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴²"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

The Message   ³⁶"But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows. ^{37 -39}"The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away. ^{39 -44}"The Son of Man's Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.

The primary point of this passage (along with the three parables following) is THE IMMINECE OF HIS RETURN. The point is … Jesus is coming back, it’s really going to happen. The exact time is not important, what is important is we are ready and waiting.

 ³⁶"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Jesus begins with the truth that no one knows when his coming will happen. The expression “day or hour” is used throughout scripture to indicate a GENERAL reference to time.

We see here some of the “emptying” of Christ in this passage. This emptying or in Greek kenosis (found in Philippians 2: 7) contends that when Jesus became flesh he limited the use of his divine attributes so that he could experience the full human life. While He did not in any sense give up his deity, Jesus voluntarily limited the use of these characteristics (Hebrews 4: 14-16).  He voluntarily limited himself and remains uninformed to the time about “that day.”  

³⁷As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Jesus uses a familiar story with his audience, the story of Noah. The people in the days of Noah did not heed the warnings of judgment that were given to them. They continued to carry on in the every day activities. Although in Genesis 6: 11-12 the people of Noah’s day were identified as evil, Jesus’ main point in this passage is not necessarily that the people are evil. They were just so wrapped up in everyday living they were caught off guard because they had no concern for righteousness and spiritual realities.  Ouch, does that sound familiar???? By contrast, Noah and his family went through with the preparations for the coming flood, even though they could see no specific signs and did not know the time.  That is Jesus expectation of us…regardless of whether we know the time or not, can see signs or not, we are to be ready and waiting.

⁴⁰Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Jesus gives two other regular daily examples for the people of his time, folks in a field and grinding with a hand mill. The way Jesus relates is amazing. Here he is teaching about future events but he makes it easy, in our day he could have just as easily said, “two people sitting at their computers in an office” or “two people shopping at Wal-Mart.” The point is that the Son of Man gathers his people at his return to enjoy the fullness of his Kingdom, while those left behind experience his judgment.

⁴²"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

“Watch” implies not only to keep looking but also to be prepared. Ultimately the human race is divided into two groups – those who watch for Christ’s coming and those who do not. The principle of separation is illustrated here graphically. The keynote for this passage is “Watch” literally “stay wide awake!” For no one knows when Christ may come. To live without watchfulness invites disaster! A home owner must be vigilant or the thief will rob him. We must remember that the watching of the Christian for the coming of Christ is not that of terror-stricken fear and shivering apprehension, it is the watching of eager expectation for the coming of glory and joy. The spirit which leads to disaster is the spirit which says there is plenty of time, it is a delusion. Watching here is NOT a passive term.

Here’s an example, a fireman. Firemen are really intentional about being ready at any given moment, to the point of having their fire pants fixed perfectly over their boots - so as to simple step into the boots, pull up the pants and run. When on duty they live in this state of complete readiness, they prepare for it, they plan it, they think about it, they strategize about it, etc. So we must ask ourselves what does it look like for me to be watching, ready, prepared? What does it look like for the community of faith I belong to be ready? I think I won’t answer that, because for each of us the answer may be different. BUT I’d like for you to think about it and email me back one statement about what this “watchfulness” could mean for you or for the body of believers you know. Resources: NIV Bible Dictionary, NIV Application Commentary, The Gospel of Matthew by William Barclay, Beacon Bible Studies – Matthew by Ralph Earle, Commentary by Matthew Henry