Watch, but for What?

Put on the whole armour of God ... Praying always ... and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me" - Ephesians 6:13,18-19a

Standing strong in Christ means being alert and watching - but watching for what?

1) First, we watch for Christ. Jesus said he would return at an unknown hour to take his followers home and judge the ungodly. There won't be time to say, "Wait, give me a moment!" He warns not to procrastinate.

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." - Matthew 24:42

2) We need to be alert for those trying to lead us astray. Sadly, some have not followed that admonition.

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, ... ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. - Jude 1:4

3) And we are to watch for opportunities to serve Christ. Jesus said, "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing (Matthew 24:46). That means doing as much good as we can while we can, to whom ever we can.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:10

- fritz

Two Quotes and a Scripture

Madison Park, CNN, 10/04/10

"From Dr. Spock to Annette Funicello, growing up in the '50s and '60s, we grew up thinking we were special. Somehow, we metamorphosed from peace, love and happiness to a me generation."

"We started accumulating wealth and began focusing on providing for ourselves and our families. That's what we did and now, we're beginning to look around. What's it all about?" he said. "Many of us are divorced. Our families are spread to the seven winds. We're disappointed."¹

Jim Elliott, evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador, October 28, 1949

"He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose"²

The Apostle Paul, Galatians 6:7 (King James Version)

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Something, today, to think about.

- fritz

^{1 - Are once-happy boomers behind rise in midlife suicide, Madison Park, CNN, October 4, 2010 8:23 a.m. EDTCNN http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/04/baby.boomer.suicides/
2 - Wheaton College archives}

Faith Additives - Brotherly Kindness

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness;...for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" - 2^nd Peter 1:5-7a,10b(KJV)

Faith needs additives¹ to remain healthy. "Brotherly kindness" is listed as essential to avoid fruitlessness, barrenness, and falling.

Judge Judy, on her popular daytime television show, told a plaintiff suing her own sister for something done to her husband, "In ten years you probably won't have this husband, but you'll still have your sister, be kind to her!"

You don't choose your physical family and you don't choose your brother's in Christ, either. You won't get away with cheating them² and they will be with you for eternity; be kind to them!<sup>3

1</sup>Faith Additives
²A Good Healthy Fear of God
³Galatians 6:10

- fritz