Stay Awake and Ready
11/30/2025
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."
- Matthew 24:42 (NIV)
In today’s verse, Jesus’ words have a certain holy heft to them. He isn’t attempting to scare us,
He’s calling us to be ready. “Keep watch,” He says. Why? We don’t know the day. The uncertainty is not supposed to create anxiety; it’s intended to evoke being on the brink of something.
It reminds me of something most of us grew up with, the unexpected drop-by. Perhaps it was a parent coming home earlier than expected, or a teacher barging in before the class was scheduled to quiet down. It all turned from the instant that doorknob clicked into place. Awareness sharpened. Priorities realigned. Distractions dissolved.
Jesus is talking about something much more radical. Not a pop-in, but a return that changes
everything about the cosmos. And yet, He says it in the most intensely personal of terms:
You watch. You stay awake. You stay ready.
Readiness doesn’t mean hoarding supplies or hiding in terror. It’s the way we should live if our words are going to match the hope.
— Being quick to forgive.
— Being generous with grace.
— Refusing to drift spiritually.
— Getting rid of the long accounts you have with God.
— Living with passion, not detachment.
The Bible presents readiness as a way of life. Paul described it as being “alert and sober-minded.” Peter encourages us to “set your hope fully” on Christ. John says that “when He appears, we will be like Him.” All of these indicate one thing: readiness is relational. We look for Him, because we walk with Him.
So perhaps the question today is not When is He coming?
The real question might be:
Am I living awake?
Am I watching with hope?
Am I serving with urgency?
Do I love as though today could be the day?
Because one day, it will be.
Action Steps:
• Spend five minutes today checking your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any place where spiritual drowsiness has set in.
• Call, write or visit someone you need to encourage, forgive or breathe life into.
•Whatever else you do, take some time to pray tonight, thanking Jesus for His anticipated return.
Today’s Challenge:
Before you close your eyes at night, tell Jesus, “I want to be ready, heart and mind and life.
Keep me awake.” Tell Him in truth and see what He will rouse in you.
Prayer:
Oh Lord Jesus, make my heart vigilant. Guard me from spiritual sleepiness. More of help me
live expectantly and hopeful, not in fear. Just continue to empower me to love courageously and
fervently, serve diligently, and live in close relationship with You until the day of Your return.
Help me to be INSTANT, ready, and steady with a light that is PURE & BRIGHT. In Your name
I pray, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."
- Matthew 24:42 (NIV)
In today’s verse, Jesus’ words have a certain holy heft to them. He isn’t attempting to scare us,
He’s calling us to be ready. “Keep watch,” He says. Why? We don’t know the day. The uncertainty is not supposed to create anxiety; it’s intended to evoke being on the brink of something.
It reminds me of something most of us grew up with, the unexpected drop-by. Perhaps it was a parent coming home earlier than expected, or a teacher barging in before the class was scheduled to quiet down. It all turned from the instant that doorknob clicked into place. Awareness sharpened. Priorities realigned. Distractions dissolved.
Jesus is talking about something much more radical. Not a pop-in, but a return that changes
everything about the cosmos. And yet, He says it in the most intensely personal of terms:
You watch. You stay awake. You stay ready.
Readiness doesn’t mean hoarding supplies or hiding in terror. It’s the way we should live if our words are going to match the hope.
— Being quick to forgive.
— Being generous with grace.
— Refusing to drift spiritually.
— Getting rid of the long accounts you have with God.
— Living with passion, not detachment.
The Bible presents readiness as a way of life. Paul described it as being “alert and sober-minded.” Peter encourages us to “set your hope fully” on Christ. John says that “when He appears, we will be like Him.” All of these indicate one thing: readiness is relational. We look for Him, because we walk with Him.
So perhaps the question today is not When is He coming?
The real question might be:
Am I living awake?
Am I watching with hope?
Am I serving with urgency?
Do I love as though today could be the day?
Because one day, it will be.
Action Steps:
• Spend five minutes today checking your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any place where spiritual drowsiness has set in.
• Call, write or visit someone you need to encourage, forgive or breathe life into.
•Whatever else you do, take some time to pray tonight, thanking Jesus for His anticipated return.
Today’s Challenge:
Before you close your eyes at night, tell Jesus, “I want to be ready, heart and mind and life.
Keep me awake.” Tell Him in truth and see what He will rouse in you.
Prayer:
Oh Lord Jesus, make my heart vigilant. Guard me from spiritual sleepiness. More of help me
live expectantly and hopeful, not in fear. Just continue to empower me to love courageously and
fervently, serve diligently, and live in close relationship with You until the day of Your return.
Help me to be INSTANT, ready, and steady with a light that is PURE & BRIGHT. In Your name
I pray, Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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