The Importance of Watching^(A)

³⁴ “But ^(B)take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with ^[a]carousing, drunkenness, and ^(C)cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

¹⁹ and the ^(A)cares of this world, ^(B)the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

^45 (A)But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a ^(B)day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

^40 (A)Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

³ For we have spent enough of our past ^[a]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. ⁴ In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. ⁵ They will give an account to Him who is ready ^(A)to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this reason ^(B)the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but ^(C)live according to God in the spirit.

Serving for God’s Glory

⁷ But ^(D)the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

² For you yourselves know perfectly that ^(A)the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then ^(B)sudden destruction comes upon them, ^(C)as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ^4 (D)But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all ^(E)sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ^6 (F)Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but ^(G)let us watch and be ^[a]sober. ⁷ For ^(H)those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk ^(I)are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, ^(J)putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

^3 (A)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and ^(B)repent. ^(C)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you ^(D)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

Be Steadfast

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent ^(A)to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;