"What, could you not watch with Me one hour?" Matthew 26:40       Jesus' suffering had begun in the Garden of Gethsemane. He chose three of His disciples to be near Him in His great agony, but three times they fell asleep while He was engaged in prayer. He reproved them with the question: "What, could you not watch with Me one hour?"      

Even in the hour of greatest trial or of greatest need the children of God are in danger of becoming weary, of neglecting the study of God's Word, worship, and prayer, from which daily strength must be derived. This is true even in a world which is fast dying in its final hurtle to the Last Judgment. The opportunities for spreading the Gospel are unlimited, but we Christians must fight continually against the sluggishness of spiritual sleep. Too often we fail to see or to realize opportunities for witnessing; we are constantly in danger of squandering our money and goods on useless things or, at least, of using them for our own selfish pleasure, although the Kingdom of God has crying need for funds to carry on its work. All too few talented young men are willing to prepare for the Church's ministry of preaching or teaching. Our prayers are often so weak and few and far between that they betray our lack of faith and spiritual strength.      

Christian friends, "Watch you therefore; for you know not when the master of the house cometh, at evening, or at mid-night, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch" Mark 13:35-37  

Watch against the devil's snares lest asleep he find thee; For indeed no pains he spares to deceive and blind thee. Satan's prey oft are they who secure are sleeping And no watch are keeping.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Following Christ has two requirements: Believing Him and obeying Him.