Day 259: Believers as Watchmen

Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 21:11-12

Central Thought: As spiritual watchmen, we must warn the world about the coming “night.”

In ancient times every city had a watchman stationed somewhere on the perimeter. He was there primarily to watch for danger. However, he also watched for anyone approaching, whether allies or enemies. As they approached, he would either inform or warn the people below with words of assurance or alarm.

A watchman traditionally gave the time of day or night occasionally to let the people know when night was coming so they could finish up their tasks and put their tools away. The next morning he shouted with a loud voice to let everyone know that daylight was coming so they could rise and be ready to face another day and prepare to accomplish the tasks at hand.

The watchman’s post of duty was high on the city wall or in a turret or tower. He had a vantage point from which he could see things that others could not. His purpose and charge of duty was to stay awake and watch for the welfare of all the people of the city. It was his duty to inform them of impending danger or other events he observed.

A watchman who failed to sound an alarm failed at his task. But even worse than that, he may have placed the citizens of his city in danger.

Today, God has placed us, as believers, in the role of being ‘watchmen” for the unsaved of the world. He has given us a vantage point in the Spirit to see and know things others may not know. As such, we have been given the duty of informing the world about the ‘signs of the times.”

The world needs to know that ‘the night is coming.” Time is running short! Soon it will be too late to make preparations for eternity. Are we fulfilling our duty to God and mankind? ‘Watchman, what of the night?”

Devotional Prayer: Lord, please make us more aware of the need to warn the lost about the coming night and the need to get ready to meet Christ.

Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 19:1-21:17; Galatians 2:1-16; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 23:13-14