How can we "stay awake" in our daily walk with Christ? The Call to Watchfulness Matthew 24:42 — “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.” What Staying Awake Looks Like • Active expectancy for Christ’s return • Ongoing repentance and sensitivity to sin • Immediate obedience to Scripture rather than delayed good intentions • Hearts tuned to the Holy Spirit’s prompting (Galatians 5:16) • Daily choices shaped by eternal priorities, not passing pressures (Colossians 3:1–2) Why Staying Awake Matters • Jesus commands it; loving Him means keeping His commands (John 14:15) • Spiritual drowsiness leaves room for temptation (1 Peter 5:8) • Alert believers encourage and protect each other (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Christ’s return will be sudden (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6) • Rewards are promised to the watchful (Revelation 3:2-3) Common Signs of Spiritual Drowsiness • Neglect of Scripture and prayer • Diminishing concern over sin • Growing comfort with cultural values opposed to Christ • A critical spirit toward fellow believers instead of love • Indifference to the lost How to Stay Awake Every Day • Begin and end the day in the Word — “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) • Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) — short, honest conversations with God throughout the day • Wear the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) — truth, righteousness, gospel readiness, faith, salvation, the Word, prayer • Practice immediate obedience — act promptly on what Scripture and the Spirit reveal • Cultivate accountability — transparent friendships that ask how your soul is doing • Serve actively — watchfulness fuels, and is fueled by, love in action (James 1:22; Galatians 6:9-10) • Guard media intake — feed the heart with what stirs affection for Christ (Philippians 4:8) Scripture-Fueled Alertness • 1 Thessalonians 5:6 — “So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.” • Romans 13:11 — “And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” • Mark 13:37 — “What I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!” Daily Checklist □ Word: Did I read, meditate, and obey? □ Prayer: Did I converse with the Lord and listen? □ Holiness: Did I repent promptly when convicted? □ Love: Did I serve someone tangibly today? □ Readiness: Did I consider Christ could return before day’s end? Encouragement to Keep Watch Staying awake is not a burden but a privilege—living each moment ready to meet the One who loved us first. His grace empowers what He commands, and His coming will prove that no effort to remain alert was wasted. |
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