“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42).
WATCH against the leaven of false doctrine. Remember that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light. Remember that bad money is never marked bad, or else it would never pass. Be jealous for the whole truth as it is in Jesus. Do not put up with a grain of error merely for the sake of a pound of truth. Do not tolerate a little false doctrine one bit more than you would tolerate a little sin.
WATCH against slothfulness about Bible study and private prayer. There is nothing so spiritual, but we may at last do it formally. Most backslidings begin in the closet. When a tree is snapped in two by a high wind, we generally find there had been some hidden decay.
WATCH against bitterness and charitableness towards others. A little love is more valuable than many gifts. Be eagle-eyed in seeing the good that is in your brethren and dim-sighted as the mole of evil. Let your memory be a strong box for their graces, but a sieve for their faults.
WATCH against pride and self-conceit. Peter said at first, ” … Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee … ” (Matthew 26:35). Presently he fell. Pride is the high road to falling.
WATCH against the sins of the churches of Galatia, Ephesus, and Laodicea. Believers may run well for a season, then lose their first love, and then become lukewarm.
WATCH not least against the sin of Jehu. A man may have great zeal to all appearance, and yet have very bad motives. It is quite another thing to love the truth.
Let us watch for the world’s sake. We are the books they chiefly read. They mark our ways far more than we think. Let us aim to be living epistles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us watch for our own sakes. As our walk is, so will be our peace.
Above all, let us watch for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake. Let us live as though His glory was concerned in our behavior. Let us live as though every slip and fall was a reflection on the honor of our Lord. Let us live as though every allowed sin was once more thorn in His head -one more nail in His feet.
Oh, let us exercise godly jealousy over thoughts, words, and actions: over motives, manners, and walk! Never, never let us think we can watch too much. “None of us are more than half awake!”
WATCH AND PRAY!
Author: J.C. Ryle