Mark 13:33 – 37
“Be on guard and stay constantly alert [and pray]; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. 34It is like a man away on a journey, who when he left home put his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and also ordered the doorkeeper to be continually alert. 35Therefore, be continually on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36[stay alert,] in case he should come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep and unprepared. 37“What I say to you I say to everyone, ‘Be on the alert [stay awake and be continually cautious]!’”
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[Just] take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is (Mar_13:33).
Because the Lord can be coming for us at any time, the best advice is just, “Watch and pray. Be ready! Take heed, be ready! You don’t know when it’s going to happen.”
For the Son of man is as a man [who is] taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his [apportioned] work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore [he said,]: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even [evening], or at midnight, 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 (Mar_13:34-37).
So, what Jesus is saying to you is: watch, be ready. You don’t know exactly when He is coming. He may come at evening, He may come at midnight, He may come in the early morning. Because you don’t know, just be watching and be ready. ”
[Taken from Chuck Smith’s Commentary]
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1 Thessalonians 5:4-11
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;
5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
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Isaiah 30:18
God Is Gracious and Just
18Therefore the LORD waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them].