Joel M Bradshaw

32“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”–Mark 13

Let’s focus on the command given in both verses 35 and 37. The Greek word is GREGOREITE (read greh-gor-AY-eet-eh). This is an imperative, meaning you are commanded to do it and it occurs 10 times in the New Testament. So here are the 8 other times.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matthew 24:42)

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:13)

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”…“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:38, 41)

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”…Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:34, 38)

 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. (Acts 20:31)

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

So when it comes to your everyday faith in Jesus, are you more asleep or awake? Are you more on guard and standing firm or not staying intentional and distracted? Which of the two options describes you most? Are you enduring with a focused faith or going through the motions of faith? Remember imperatives are commands.–JMB