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Luke 21:34–38 (ESV)
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
One of my great friends once shared with me that his faith was not filled with mountain-top experiences; he had some of those, to be sure, but rather his faith, he said, was “A daily grind.” He didn’t mean this in a negative sense as if faith in Jesus was a life of drudgery for him. He meant every day he steadily pressed on in his relationship with Jesus, praying, reading Scripture, sharing his faith with others when the opportunities came, and living in the hope that comes through Christ alone. The regular routines of the world persisted with work, politics, family, and friends, but those things never overshadowed his relationship with Jesus. Every day he pressed on in Christ.
Press on. That’s the encouragement Jesus gives the disciples in this passage when he tells them “Watch yourselves.” Jesus gives no further instruction or hints regarding how and when the Son of Man will return, rather He simply says, “Watch yourselves.”
Jesus goes on to warn that we are not to have our hearts weighed down by drunkenness, and perhaps the more dangerous, by the anxieties or cares of daily life that can easily push Jesus out of the center of our hearts and minds.
In fact, in Luke’s Gospel, there are several warnings not to let the cares of this life supersede our relationship with Jesus. We are instead, encouraged to follow only where He leads us.
A heart weighed down by the cares of this life grows tired and numb, making it difficult to notice the burning bush that begs for our attention.
The cure, as Jesus tells His disciples here and will again do so in the Garden of Gethsemane, is to watch and pray, to stay awake and be present with Him.
It’s not about knowing the future, but to be present with Jesus.
That will give us the strength to escape from the upheavals of life which would seek to loosen our grip on the hope set before us (Hebrews 6.18) and ultimately stand in Jesus’ presence with heads held high (vs. 28).
So, the encouragement for myself and for you this day is to continue to press on to know, love, and follow Jesus every day.
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers!
Scott
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