How to ​“Keep Watch”

Excerpt from The Scandal of the Kingdom Workbook

Alert Readiness to Move

At the conclusion of the Parable of the Ten Women, Jesus said to his listeners, ​“Therefore keep watch” (Matthew 25:13). The theme of watching in the New Testament often means alert readiness. It occurs often in the Old Testament with the term watchman (see Job 27:18; Psalm 127:1 nkjv; Isaiah 21:5 – 6 nkjv, 11 – 12; Ezekiel 3:17; 33:1 – 7; Hosea 9:8; Micah 7:4). Watchmen, who were lookouts or sentinels, were familiar figures in those days. They observed diligently and called out when attention and action were required.

Being watchful in our life with God is about walking alongside Jesus with intentionality and follow-through. It’s about knowing and loving Jesus ​“for the long haul.” Discipleship is not instant. Maturation grows with our increasing awareness of God. We continually seek to know God personally, not ride on the coattails of others. This is an authentic journey with God, not a few moments of thinking that getting to know Jesus personally seems like a good idea.

Watchfulness is particularly important in times of stress. We see this illustrated in the story of Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Jesus’ sorrow and distress, he said to them, ​“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me” (Matthew 26:38 nkjv). Shortly thereafter, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, ​“Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:40 – 41 nkjv).

If someone had asked these disciples, ​“Are you willing to watch with Jesus?” they probably would have said yes. But they knew the officials were looking for Jesus and for them as well. They had not yet trained their bodies to follow Jesus even when they were afraid or unsure. So Jesus advised his friends to be watchful in an attitude of prayer. Staying alert would have provided them with a level of responsiveness and power that would otherwise have been impossible for them to achieve. As it turned out, they were not able to stand with Christ when his enemies confronted him, because they had not been watchful in prayer.

To truly be ready to move requires a devotion to Jesus — an experiential knowledge of him that tells us all will be well if we venture out. But it also requires us to be diligent observers of ourselves, noticing when more intensity is needed in our motives and action.

• What does it mean for you to ​“keep watch” when it comes to your life in Christ? What helps you to maintain ​“alert readiness” during times of stress and even anxiety?
• Think of someone you know who has been with Jesus ​“over the long haul.” Try to guess what has helped that person maintain ​“alert readiness.” Then (really — do this!) call or meet with that person and ask what has helped him or her to do this. (You can explain it as having an ​“assignment” from this workbook.)

Watching for Opportunities

In the Parable of the Ten Women, each of the women were waiting for the bridegroom’s return. Given that Jesus often referred to himself as the bridegroom (see, for example, Mark 2:19 – 20), it makes sense that many interpret the parable about the second coming of Christ. However, the parable is about more than just Jesus’ return to this world. It is about spiritual opportunity in all of life, our readiness to seize the day, because the present moment — this day — is the only place where we live.

We cannot live in the past nor the future, so we don’t dwell there. Today is the day of salvation (see 2 Corinthians 6:2). Salvation is, biblically speaking, deliverance. It provides us with forgiveness of sins but also ushers in a new order of life in which we are ​“delivered … from the power of darkness” (Colossians 1:13 kjv) and brought into the kingdom of the Son. In that kingdom — where what God wants done gets done — we have a different order of life. We are to live in and from a different world where it makes sense to trust God no matter what.

To watch means we encounter people in anticipation that this may be a moment to do or say whatever Jesus would do or say. And so, we watch for Jesus throughout the day. He may come to us in the form of a neighbor, a little child, a pastor, a teacher, a friend, or even an enemy. We see this in Jesus’ metaphor of the sheep and goats, when the righteous asked:

“‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ​‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:37 – 40).

This is not as hard as you might think. The five wise young women in the parable knew what they were about. They lived and did their job with intentionality and focus. Likewise, the faithful servant served in his role with intentionality and focus. They all prepared — just as we have — hearts that are made ready and refreshed by God.

• Pause to reflect on the last twenty-four hours. When, where, and through whom may Jesus have come to you? (Ask God to help you notice him more fully.)
• If you weren’t afraid, cautious, or just plain hesitant, how might you serve in a way that God seems to have in mind for you? (Relax. We’re in the dreaming stage here.) What preparation would you make in prayer or in conversations with others? 

Staying in Conversation

“Keeping watch” flows out of having lively back-and-forth conversations with God. This doesn’t mean talking at God but rather asking him questions and then listening in the moments after you ask. Let’s say, for example, your computer doesn’t work. So you ask God for a next step. You’re quiet and careful, and then the name of an old friend who knows computers comes to mind. Or you remember where the user guide is.

Computers, people’s complaints, back surgery … all these things can seem insurmountable when we stand alone before them. But we have to remember that God is also here — really here! The kingdom of God is here. None of these things have to be faced all at once but can be faced in conversation after conversation with God. We ask, ​“What’s next?” Then a next step comes to us. Relief! Then another conversation, and next step, and so on.

King David knew to do this — even in times of stress when the Philistine army was hovering around him. One time when he asked God if he should engage them, the Lord said, ​“Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army” (1 Chronicles 14:14 – 16). As a result, the Israelites had an experience they certainly never forgot: they heard the audible sound of God moving in the trees! They knew God was with them.

The Israelites knew not to take one step until God did. They had the experience of moving only when God moved, of partnering with him in a fearful situation. David facilitated this because his heart was for the Lord. He watched, didn’t opt out of conversation with God, and lived in the companionship and guidance of God. He moved when God moved.

• Read 1 Chronicles 14:8 – 17 aloud slowly. Close your eyes and picture the scene and hear the sound of the marching. Sit in that. Then think of a situation about which you are bewildered or afraid or overwhelmed. Write that below, and ask God to help you. 
• What is something about which you would like to engage in conversation with God? What are some questions that you want to ask him right now about it?