Watch, Pray, Persist

1 Peter 4:7 The End of the world is coming soon.  Therefore be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.  (NKJV Serious and watchful).

Isaiah 62:6-7 I have set watchment on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night.  You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest til he establishes and til He makes Jerusalem a praise on the earth.

Looking around at the world today, we can see the end times is at hand.  Do we have a year, ten years, a hundred?  I have no idea, but I know it is coming.  It's not our place to figure out the time and day.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."  

Our place is to be beseeching the Lord for others and for Him to establish His kingdom on earth.  Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  Be light, be salt and be in prayer.  Be alert, be disciplined.  We are alert for opportunities to share the Gospel.  We are disciplined in our behavior and our prayer life.  

The Bible calls us to action.  We are not to wait passively for our Lord's return but continue to work tirelessly til He comes.  Praying is action.  Praying is work.  Spending time with the Lord will energize us to be "about our Father's business."  (Luke 2:49)

During my time in Bible Study Fellowship the verse in Isaiah spoke to me of persistence and continued prayer to God to establish His kingdom.  It spoke of watchfulness and activity.  Then someone mentioned the verse in 1 Peter and the two verses just clicked together for me.  Prayer is our most important job.  It is where we find instruction, energy, direction, fellowship with our Father, and tap into His power.  It's where we meet with Him and seek Him and then we go and share this with others.  

Continue to share the Gospel.  Continue to beseech God for others.  Continue to seek His return.  Continue to seek the establishment of His Kingdom on Earth.  Pray without ceasing.  1 Thessalonians 5:17  

Lord, let us take prayer seriously.  Let us pray continually.  Let us seek Your kingdom.  Energize us to be about Your work.  We pray this in Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Pray.