Keep watch

““Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Some versions say: ‘stay awake’. In the Old Testament we read about watchmen. Watchmen had the role of watching out for enemies, but also for runners who were the postmen of the day. They would bring news of the wars being fought and other important pieces of news. Watchmen could not fall asleep. I suspect this is where we derive the word ‘night watchmen’. Night watchmen keep an eye on the property they are employed to protect.

Here in Nepal you may walk past large properties such as schools, factories, government buildings where watchmen or guards are employed. I walk by a factory where there are several watchmen in raised boxes with guns to protect their employers property.

We are the Lord’s watchmen. We must keep watch over our souls and the souls of our community of believers. We must protect them and make them aware when the enemy is prowling around to destroy them.

Paul regularly addressed the fact that we are being built into God’s house. We are His temple, jointly. We must care for each other.

Encouraging Christians to see themselves as belonging to a community is important to me. When we hurt our friends care for us. When we laugh together it is much more fun.