Advent Watchfulness

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). This warning of Jesus is one of the four themes of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth. Watchfulness is important because we do not know when Jesus will come again on the Last Day.
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the people of Israel to acknowledge the Messiah as their rescuer from sin and death. Many rejected Jesus because He did not fit their idea of a Messiah. They did not know the time of His visitation, and so they put Jesus to death.
Watchfulness is important so that our attention is not focused on worldly things. Would the people who were fighting in the stores have been ready for Jesus’ return if He had come on “Black Friday?” While many were watchful for bargains, the frenzy of the moment left them unwatchful for the future Jesus came to give them.
Our Advent watchfulness means that we direct our thoughts to the study of God’s Word. We need to study the message of John the Baptist, who called on the people to repent of their sins. When John was challenged about his preaching, he quoted the prophecy of Isaiah, “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). This was a call to straighten lives and hearts made crooked by sin. It was a call to acknowledge sin and be sorrowful that people had broken God’s commandments. For those who did repent, John comforted them with Baptism, the washing away of sin and forgiveness from God—all through faith in the Messiah. John’s message declared, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:26).
The world considers John’s message to be very unloving and disrespectful of other beliefs. Christian watchfulness includes being aware of the values and thoughts of this world that are in conflict with God’s Word. St. Paul writes, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11). Just as a soldier who sleeps while on guard duty may allow disaster to strike, so the followers of Jesus need to stay alert for signs of temptation and spiritual danger. Watchfulness is important so that temptations are avoided and that they may glorify God in all that they do and say.
Watchfulness includes seeing opportunities to serve those around us—relatives, coworkers, and friends. We serve Jesus and our neighbors through our kind words, our concern for their lives, and our desire to help in difficult times. Christmas time presents many opportunities to show our love for Jesus through our Christmas cards, our visits and singing to the elderly, our special attention to the young, and our kindness to those who do not know the love of Jesus.
Advent is an important time of preparing our hearts to celebrate Christ’s birth as the Savior of the world. Watchfulness over our faith and life is an important activity as we wait for Jesus to return on the Last Day.
Theodore Gullixson is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin.