"Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." --- Matthew 24:42.
To watch is the wise exercise of a gracious soul, who is sensible of his own weakness, loves his Saviour, and fears to grieve his Spirit; who is well acquainted with the depth of corruption in fallen nature; is well apprised of the invisible powers of darkness; and hearkens to the voice of his kind and adorable Shepherd.
This watchfulness discovers an awakened attention to spiritual concerns, and has the love of Christ for its motive, and is attended with constant dependence on Christ for protection from dangers, and for strength against all enemies, together with supplies of grace in every time of need. If our religion be only in outward profession, it may pass without watching; but if it be true grace in the heart from Jesus Christ, that sacred treasure will need to be guarded by circumspect watchfulness.
The exhortation is to all God's children, necessary in every condition, in every stage of a Christian's life; in youth, manhood, old age; in prosperity and adversity, in the seasons of consolation, and in the times of temptation, in company and alone. O blessed Jesus, help me to watch and pray; let me be always ready; keep me in thy love, and preserve me by thy power, till my change shall come.
Lord, help me to watch,
And help me to pray;
Lest the enemies catch,
By night and by day.
The world and the devil
Are spreading their net;
My heart, too, is evil,
And full of deceit.