"Watching and Praying" Part 1

This is the 82^nd letter:

Text for the day: Mark 13:33

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Our Theme for the day: “Watching and Praying”

Our Devotional

Five mouths have gone by since we started Garden Ministry, and one may ask where the time has gone. Today we begin a new series called “Watching and Praying.”

“Take ye heed, watch and pray,” in Mark 13:33 was the words of our Lord and Saviour spoken to His disciples about two thousand years ago. In the setting of this scripture, Jesus was opening the understanding of His disciples to the fall of Jerusalem. He was also unveiling the prophecies of the time of the end, and His second coming to take his faithful children home. In chapters eleven and twelve we see Jesus in conflict with the scribes and Pharisees, and now as if to say to His disciples, take your eyes of those earthly leaders, who do nothing else but talk about those who are working for my kingdom, and serve themselves. Pick up your heads because a better day is coming. In Matthew 24:42 notice how Matthew enforces the word watch in the same setting. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” The admonitions to “take heed” and to “watch and pray” constitute the theme of Mark 13:33. Firstly, why should you watch?

You are to watch because Satan is working to eclipse the glories of the future world from you, and to attract your whole attention to the things of this life. Secondly you are to watch lest Satan gain access to your mind, and sow bad ideas in your mind and cause you to grow and yield an abundant harvest of unrighteousness. The third reason why we should watch is lest you should speak hastily, fretfully and impatiently. The apostle Paul said that we should shun all fidelity to our fellow man; by doing this we are adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. (Titus 2:10) Little do we realize, but everyone who names the name of Christ is to adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour by a well-ordered life and godly conversation, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Some may not worry about these blessings, but by possessing these, you will have favor both with God and with men. It is said that, “words spoken hastily wound and bruise souls, and the deepest wound is made upon the soul of the speaker.” (OHC 274)

The gift of the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit to Christ is of greater value then the ornament we pay so much for to wear. To everyone who is a servant leader there will come to your experience today something that will provoke, or stir you to anger, and if you are not under the full control of God, you will be provoked when these things come. But allow the meekness of Christ to calm your ruffled spirit, control your tongue, and bring you back into subjection to God. Learn how to bear with the rudeness of others. You may be misjudged by others, but bear it in Jesus name, and have pity for those who utter hasty, unadvised words. Avoid speaking words which stir up strife, but rather suffer wrong than do wrong. God requires every one of His servant Leaders, as far as is possible, to live peaceably with all men. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

We are into our 20th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs? Our Prayer for today: Lord, help us use our talent of speech to present Christ as the sin-pardoning Saviour today, instead of pulling one another down. Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see. If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them. These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.