Watch…and Pray!

1st Sunday in Advent, 12/2/18
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13


Watch…and Pray!
I. For an increase of faith
II. For an abundance of love
III. For a stronger heart


Multi-tasking has become a way of life. We have no problem paying attention to more than one of the multitude of devices in our lives. Want some proof? Who doesn’t have a smart phone on and close at hand while watching a two-hour movie? Who watches a game either in person or on TV undistracted by anything else? I don’t know of anyone. Instead, we make sure we have our devices with us, powered-up and ready to use. That way we can communicate with others what we’re seeing and hearing at the moment.Today marks the beginning of a new church year. It’s the first Sunday in Advent. During Advent we prepare for our Savior’s coming to this earth. Our preparation focus at the beginning of Advent is for the second coming of Christ on the Last Day. But as Christmas gets nearer, we prepare our hearts to celebrate his first coming to this earth.

Today our God’s encouragement is for us to watch for the coming of our Lord. Just watch. And it’s as if I can hear fingers tapping already, trying to pass the time while watching. It’s as if I can imagine minds are engaged in mental gyrations, trying to arrive at some ideas for what to do while we simply watch. It’s as if I can hear the sounds of slumber, as people begin to nod off while just watching.

Would you like a suggestion of what to do while watching for Jesus to return? A little multi-tasking? The Apostle Paul suggests one by his example in this morning’s reading from 1 Thessalonians 3. He states, “Night and day we pray most earnestly.” There’s a fine suggestion for all of us multi-taskers out there, a suggestion of what else to do while watching for Jesus. Watch…and pray! But what should we pray for? Let’s search Paul’s Spirit-inspired words for some direction.

Part I.

In the next few weeks I imagine you’ll spend a good deal of time thinking about what your loved ones want for Christmas and sharing with them what you want as well. Before you do that, let’s back up a moment. Let’s back up and consider what we already have. And among all the things you possess, which of those things are most important and precious to you? Already you’re thinking about your family members, your happiness, your health. But how about this one: your Christian faith? When you think about it, isn’t your faith in Jesus one of your most important possessions?

The people to whom Paul originally wrote these words—the Christians in the ancient city of Thessalonica—were in danger of losing their most important possession—their faith in Jesus. How come? Paul informs us in the opening words of this letter that they were experiencing severe suffering for their faith in Jesus. They were being persecuted for their connection to Christ and some of them were tempted to deny their faith so that the suffering would end.

So, what does Paul do, and, by example, what does he encourage the Thessalonians to do while they wait for Jesus to return? Listen once again to his words, “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.” Paul was not able to stay as long he wished the first time he came to Thessalonica. He could only give these new Christians limited Christian instruction. So Paul prays that the Lord would enable him to return so that he can build them up in their faith. How so? The only way faith is strengthened. The only way your faith is strengthened—through the means of grace—the gospel of Jesus in word and sacraments. Paul’s unspoken encouragement is for them to pray for a stronger faith as they hear and study God’s word and receive the Lord’s Supper.

He wants them to possess a stronger faith so that they can withstand the persecutions they are facing and to remain faithful until Jesus returns or calls them home to heaven. Can you think of anything more important to pray for as you wait for Jesus to return?

So, watch…and pray. Pray for a deeper faith.

What do you plan to do with your time in the next 22 days—the number of days you have before Christmas Eve arrives? Perhaps your mind is already spinning and that spinning is causing anxiety and frustration to arise. You’re confronted with the reality that you plan to do more than you have time to accomplish. And that’s nothing new. We tend to overwhelm ourselves at this time of year and miss the point of it all. The point of this season of Advent is to prepare your hearts for the arrival of Jesus. That might happen later today. So watch…and pray. Your greatest possession is your faith in Jesus. The means to feed that faith is God’s word and sacraments. So how about doing this during these four weeks of Advent? Focus on your sins, your need for a Savior from sin. Confess them, silently to your God or with your fellow Christians here in worship. And then hear God’s proclamation that your sins are forgiven through Jesus. Make plans this Sunday to receive the Lord’s Supper next Sunday. Now that’s time well spent, because it’s time spent focusing on your greatest possession—your faith in Jesus. Watch…and pray for a deeper faith.

Part II.

Facing tight spots in life helps us focus on what’s nearest and dearest to us. For instance, some months ago a WELS pastor and his wife were on a flight when the engine exploded and blew a hole in the side of the aircraft. He related that he and his wife prayed, and then sent text message to their children, telling them how much they loved them. They are forever grateful that they survived the ordeal, but they did what most would do in that situation—they focused on the ones they love.

The Thessalonians were also in a tight spot. For some their predicament was potentially deadly. Did some of the Thessalonian Christians die for their faith? We don’t know for sure. But listen to Paul’s advice, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” He encourages them to love one another. Just what does he mean? Well, Paul is not simply urging them to have deep emotions for one another or simply to think of each other.

He wants them to display their love for each other. The word for “love” that Paul uses stresses that aspect of love. It’s not idle; it moves a person to act in a way that helps the object of love. Recall that might not have been so easy. The easy thing would be to do nothing that would call attention to yourself as a Christian, and, in doing so, increase the likelihood of suffering persecution. Paul encourages the opposite. Show your love for one another.

Watch…and pray! Pray for an abundance of love.

I know you’re about to launch into the busiest month of your year. Can I give you a piece of advice? Stop your busy-ness at least once a day, preferably at the beginning of each day, and ponder Christ’s love for you and your love for him. The easy thing in this hectic season is to marginalize love for Jesus so that you can expand what you accomplish. But that’s not who you are and that’s not what pleases your Savior. Recall that he might return at any time. Realize that you’re ready for his return because, by faith in Jesus, you live in forgiveness. And then let your love for Jesus motivate you to carry out your day. Watch…and pray for an abundance of love.

Part III.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US. It’s attributed to 1 in 4 deaths. Obviously, it’s a huge problem.

The Apostle Paul would agree that our hearts are the problem. Listen to what he prays, “May [the Lord] strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” He has the coming of Jesus in mind and he prays that the Lord would strengthen the hearts of the Thessalonians Christians. How? Not with any number of cardiovascular medications. But with confidence—confidence in our Lord Jesus. You have nothing to fear in the day of our Lord’s return. The One who is coming to judge all people is the One who sacrificed himself for you on Calvary’s cross. He suffered and died to make you holy. That’s what are you are right now and that’s what you’ll be on the Last Day by faith in Jesus.

So live in that confidence! You’re not under compulsion to do anything to get God to love you or to forgive you. God loves you because of who he is and has already given you forgiveness for all your sins. And therefore, there’s no good reason to live with guilt. Jesus has taken your guilt away. You’re free to live each day with a guilt-free life. And there’s no reason to fear anything, even death itself. Whether you live or die, you belong to Christ who loves you, died for you, and earned a place in heaven for you.

So watch…and pray for a stronger heart.

As I mentioned earlier, the question of the day is, “What do you want for Christmas?” But it isn’t Christmas yet. It’s Advent, the season when we prepare our hearts for Jesus. So, a more seasonal question is, “What do you want for Advent?” Take Paul’s cue in answering that question. What could you use more right now than a stronger heart, a heart that lives each day in the confidence that only a crucified and living Savior can give? With such a strong heart, you’ll be amazed at how little the world’s distractions bother you or its attacks on your faith harm you. You have Christ living in your heart by faith in him. With such a heart you’re ready to celebrate his birth. More importantly, you’re ready for his return on the Last Day.

So watch…and pray! Pray for a stronger heart. May God give you that heart of faith and may it overflow with love for others! Amen.