“Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
– Matthew 25:13
This verse comes in the context of Matthew 25. Jesus is talking about how he’s going to return and we don’t know when. Only the father knows when Jesus is returning, so he says, “Watch because you don’t know the day or the hour.”
The reality of Christ’s imminent return should compel us to be ready and faithful.
I’m reading that and I’m just thinking, “Oh, God. I want to be ready. Honestly, I can think of so many things I don’t want to be doing when Jesus comes back. First, I don’t want to be found walking in disobedience to God. I don’t want to be found in apathy toward God. What I do want is to be found walking with God in faithfulness to God, obeying his commands, living for his glory.
How Does Matthew 25:13 Relate to Me Today?
The reality is, that day could be today. Do you realize this? I don’t know where you’re listening to this right now, maybe driving to work, or you’re at home, or wherever you are, just sit back and realize for a moment, pause amidst the busyness of your day and realize Jesus could return today. We could see him today, and that’ll change your perspective on how you view your day.Â
It may cause you, like it is me, as I’m reading this to think, “Okay, God. I want every moment of my day to count today. I want to be ready. If you’re coming back today, I want to be ready. I want to be pure. I want to be holy, walking alongside and worshipping you. I’d love to be telling somebody else about you when you’re coming back.” Like, “Hey, I was just telling you about Jesus. There he is.” How awesome would that be? I want to be walking in obedience to him, so I want to live like that today. I want to encourage you to live like that today.
This Verse Emphasizes the Importance of Being Ready for Jesus’ Return
I want to pray toward that end. God, help us to be ready when Jesus comes back. Lord, help us to be ready today. If this is the day, then help us to be ready today. Change our perspective on our lives with this Matthew 25:13 kind of watchfulness. We’re watching our lives, our relationships and our words. We are watching the way we use our time because we want to be ready. When you come back, we want to be found faithful. We want to be said of lives, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
That we were doing what you left us here to do. That we were walking with you, we were worshiping you, we were witnessing about you. God, help us to live watchful lives that are ready for your return. God, if you send Jesus back today make our lives such that we would be found ready. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
