Two great quotes on Watch

I was blessed to have the opportunity to preach the last two weeks. My second message was from Colossians 4:2 …and watch in the same with thanksgiving. There are two quotes that illustrate what I believe the apostle means by watch.

The dictionary definition of “watch” is “to stay awake” but the Bible uses it to encourage not simply wakefulness but alertness, vigilance. In his book, The Annals of Rome, Tacitus describes a legion of soldiers after a battle and a day of difficult and dangerous travel,

"the men lay scattered along the intrenchments or wandered from tent to tent, wakeful rather than watchful"

All of us can testify of being unable to sleep because of fears, worries, anxieties, or our minds racing with too many thoughts to allow sleep. We know what it is to be “wakeful rather than watchful.” We need to avoid this, being awake but not watching.


This longer quote captures what we want to cultivate. This is from Adam Clarke’s commentary on Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer - This was the apostle's general advice to all; without this, neither wives, husbands, children, parents, servants, nor masters, could fulfill the duties which God, in their respective stations, required of them.

All might, power, and life come from God; his creatures are continually dependent upon him for all these: to earnest, persevering prayer, he has promised every supply; but he who prays not has no promise. How few wives feel it their duty to pray to God to give them grace to behave as wives! How few husbands pray for the grace suited to their situation, that they may be able to fulfill its duties! The like may be said of children, parents, servants, and masters. As every situation in life has its peculiar duties, trials, etc.; so to every situation there is peculiar grace appointed. No man can fulfill the duties of any station without the grace suited to that station. The grace suited to him, as a member of society in general, will not be sufficient for him as a husband, father, or master. Many proper marriages become unhappy in the end, because the parties have not earnestly besought God for the grace necessary for them as husbands and wives. This is the origin of family broils in general; and a proper attention to the apostle's advice would prevent them all.

Watch in the same - Be always on your guard; and when you have got the requisite grace by praying, take care of it, and bring it into its proper action by watchfulness; by which you will know when, and where, and how to apply it.

With thanksgiving - Being always grateful to God, who has called you into such a state of salvation, and affords you such abundant means and opportunities to glorify him.

I love how precise he is: You need specific grace from God? ask Him for it.

And the attitude of expectation: “and when you have got the requisite grace by praying” Amen! He fully expected and it was his experience, when you ask something of God, He will give it to you.

Amen!! Father, grant me grace to be better at watching in the same with thanksgiving.