October 30
The Call to
Watchfulness
Matthew 24:42
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Daily Steps
The certainty of The Return of Christ (Day 304) demands a specific response from the believer: watchfulness. Because the timing is deliberately hidden—you do not know on what day your Lord will come—Jesus commands His disciples to live in a constant state of readiness and spiritual alertness.
The peace in this principle is found in constant readiness:
The Mandate to Watch: The command keep watch does not mean frantically calculating dates, but living a life of spiritual diligence (Day 292). This involves persistent prayer (Day 260), disciplined speech (Day 293), and faithful service (Day 282), avoiding the carelessness of the sluggard (Day 292) and the foolish builder (Day 289).
The Hidden Timing: The reason for the command is the mystery of the timing: you do not know on what day your Lord will come. This intentional uncertainty prevents the believer from lapsing into moral compromise (The Final Command, Day 215) or spiritual laziness. Since He could come at any moment, we must always be found faithfully serving and living in integrity (Day 294).
The Resulting Peace: Living in constant readiness is the surest path to peace (Day 222). When we know we are actively obeying Christ (Day 283) and performing the Call to Mission (Day 274), we eliminate the fear and shame that would accompany being caught unprepared at His personal return (Day 304).
Your peace is secured by constant readiness. Embrace the Hope of the Resurrection today by focusing on the command to keep watch. Let the mystery of the timing be your daily motivator to live wisely, faithfully, and actively in service to your Lord.
Reflective Question
If you knew your Lord was returning tomorrow, what one activity or habit would you immediately stop, and what one act of service or reconciliation would you immediately start? Use your answer to guide your actions today.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess my tendency to become comfortable and lose my spiritual alertness. I thank You that the promise of Christ’s return anchors my hope. I pray for the grace and diligence to keep watch and live in constant readiness, knowing that I do not know on what day my Lord will come. Secure my peace today in the certainty that I am found faithful, serving, and obeying Your wisdom. Amen.
