A Watchful & Ready Disciple

“But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into” (Luke 12:39).

When I read text like this, it takes me back to the years I spent in retail loss prevention. The world of theft is relentless, requiring you to always be on watch. There were the simple, obvious things to “watch” for: cars with all dark-tinted windows and temporary paper tags; jackets worn in warmer weather or anyone with a backpack or large purse. Then there was, of course, the homeless guy riding into your store on his bike . . . that one was pretty obvious. 

But there were those subtle, less obvious things to consider as well. Such as watching the path a person took, the way they pushed the shopping cart, what they were looking at and how long or short they were looking at it. The sideways glances and looks over the shoulder, then the placement of a gift card or money beside the cash register, later finding itself into a pocket. 

Ready for action

Over time, I learned that watching and knowing what to look for was indeed important, but it couldn’t be the entire focus. In the watching, there had to be the crucial elements of discernment and being ready for action. The type of person you were and who you became through experiences or training determined how you responded to a thief and ultimately the outcome of the investigation or situation. 

You couldn’t spend all your energy and time watching while being slow to take action. You had to watch long enough to discern what was actually happening. You couldn’t be jumpy, looking at everyone and everything as a sign of theft. At some point, if everything is a sign, then nothing is a sign. Your work could get discredited to the point that when something was indeed going down, people might not trust your approach or your message because of your past stances. 

What Jesus is saying in Luke 12:39 is more about taking an active approach rather than being only defensive or reactive. He says as much in the verse that follows, 

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40). 

Among the many words within the Gospel’s text, we find the command to watch and to be ready. They both happen at the same time. You can’t have one without the other.

The word “watched” means to be vigilant, awake, alert and ready. Physically, yes, but it also speaks of a spiritual state of watching. Ready means standing by for action, being prepared and fit for a purpose. “You watch,” Jesus says, and in that watching, “you be ready.”

Watching For What?

The apostle Peter wrote of this state of mind when he said: 

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God . . .” (2 Peter 3:10-12).

Look at yourself, he is saying. Look at who and what you are. Be watchful of your personal spiritual condition and ask yourself if there are areas that need to be corrected or strengthened within your life. These areas can become evident if we go to the Bible and truly listen to what it says. If we truly hear, then we can apply those words with great effort and prayer.

The world around us offers much to watch, much to be worried about or to consider. We should, within reason, take note of those things, but we must not allow the noise to lead us to be distracted or led down a path of confusion or conspiracy. You and I should not take our focus off what is at the core of the Christian calling, as Peter wrote, “What manner of person ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?” 

Don’t be distracted

Distraction is one of Satan’s greatest tactics, and it’s often used by shoplifters as well. Many shoplifters will work as teams with some of the individuals purposely trying to create a distraction. One, who looks the part of a shoplifter, will work to keep the focus and energy on themselves, while someone else actually exits the store with stolen items. Jesus warned His disciples of distraction: 

“Then He said to the disciples, ‘The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, “Look here!” or “Look there!” Do not go after them or follow them’” (Luke 17:22-23).

Many things must happen before the return of Christ, and many things will be evident when that time comes. We don’t know when any of that will be, and that’s kind of the point of the imagery Christ uses. Each day I walked into a building, I knew that somewhere out there was a thief who would eventually enter the store. I didn’t know when, but I knew it would happen. There were times I was burned out, emotionally, mentally and physically, and it was in those moments I wasn’t prepared or ready for what I knew would come. The thief would come; the thief would go. Items were stolen, and I felt a sense of guilt. Why wasn’t I ready for this? I knew it would happen. There were other days too. The days when I was ready, because I had watched, I had prepared myself and discerned when and how to respond, meeting the thief in the aisle or at the exit door. You will have bad days. Perhaps even bad weeks, months or even years.

To us, Jesus is calling out as He called out to the Church in Sardis: 

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore, how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you” (Revelation 3:2-3). 

“Will” is a seemingly small word that holds immense significance. Jesus will come again, and the Kingdom of God will be established on this earth. Will you be among those who watch? Will you be among those who will be ready?

A sense of urgency

Each generation of Christians who have gone before, and those that follow after, must hold fast to a sense of urgency, doing the work of preparing themselves and preparing a people. Notice the words of Paul to the Church in Thessalonica: 

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6). 

To be sober is another way of saying to be watchful; it conveys a sense of alertness and temperance in contrast to being distracted.

Action

Followers of The Way have not been called to be passive watchers but rather to be those who take action; to know the truth, and to make use of the truth they know. Paul puts it this way, 

“But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Using familiar armor imagery of the day, Paul speaks of a breastplate and a helmet. You and I must have faith, which is belief, trust and confidence. It’s not faith or confidence in your own ability, but faith in God and Jesus Christ. This faith spoken of is coupled with love. You and I must love a love that is selfless, sacrificial and unconditional. It is how we love God and how we love others by the very life we live.

Then there’s a helmet, the one of hope and of salvation that Paul mentioned. You and I must hold on to the hope of salvation. Salvation speaks to being rescued from the eternal consequences of sin. 

“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

You be ready, you be prepared

For the watchful and ready disciple, there is a promise of hope. A promise of a changed life and the promise of the coming Kingdom of God. Let it be a daily prayer of yours, for God to open your eyes, your heart and your mind to be watchful and to be ready so that His work, and His will can be done. In your life and in the lives of others. 

Jesus told His disciples then, and He tells His disciples now: you watch, not only the things around you, but also the things within you. 

“Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (Matthew 24:46).