October 22 WORD FOR TODAY Watch grēgoreuō The word watch often translates grēgoreuō (G1127), which is derived from egeirō (G1453; “to arise, arouse”) and literally means “to watch, to refrain from sleep.” It eventually changed in meaning from that literal sense to the metaphorical and religious sense of attention, watchfulness, and vigilance. We find this word several times in the NT, and each one is significant. In His Olivet Discourse, for example, our Lord speaks of His Second Coming: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Mat_24:42; cf. Mat_25:13). Since we do not know when He will return, we are to be watching carefully and remaining attentive to the things of God. In Mat_26:36-41, we then witness a shameful scene. Here we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he asks His disciples to sit with Him and support Him as He goes off to pray. But when He returns, he finds them asleep and asks, “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” (Mat_26:40). He then further challenges them, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mat_26:41). In both instances “watch” is grēgoreuō. Yes, we all have physical infirmities, but we must live above them. It’s imperative that we be ever vigilant and stand with the Lord. In one of the most important passages in the NT on the duty of pastors in the church, Paul first outlined those responsibilities to the Ephesian elders at Miletus and then declared, “Therefore watch” (Act_20:17-31). How imperative it is today that pastors watch everything so as to protect the sheep! Grēgoreuō also appears in 1Co_16:13: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” To be a Christian means to be attentive to spiritual things, to stand for Christ at all times, never giving an inch concerning the Christian faith; we are to stay strong and never quit. Still another occurrence of this word is 1Pe_5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant [grēgoreuō]; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” We must constantly be watching our Christian walk so as not to fall into one of Satan’s snares (see October 1). Scriptures for Study: Read the following verses, noting the use of grēgoreuō: Col_4:2; 1Th_5:6, 1Th_5:10.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 06:44:45 +0000
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