Watch Then and Pray

 

For to this end we toil and humbly strive

Because we have our hope fixed upon God

He is the Savior of all men; we live

For ageless life beyond this sin-cursed sod

The self-indulgent die though yet they breathe

Contentment cannot reign in fruits of greed

Or in crass cravings that rage and bequeath

Where love of self and money mimics need

But when our God, the Kings of kings appears

He will reveal what every heart reveres

The riches of this world are to do good

God richly gives us all that we enjoy

Admonishing that we do as we should

To generously our gifts employ

Laying a foundation beyond this scope

Where true life waits that is the Life indeed

On this we set and fix our panting hope

The Prize for those who give most earnest heed

For grace has given us a higher goal

Not of the flesh but of the formless soul

We wrangle now with demons that deceive

Disputing and distorting righteousness

And some will miss the mark if they believe

The lies of conceit and covetousness

Guard what has been entrusted unto you

Do not grow weary, in due time we reap

What God has said is good and just and true

And he has said, ‘ye will not always sleep’

Watch then and pray, we do not know the hour

When Christ shall come again in glorious pow’r

© Janet Martin

1 Tim.5&6 It seems these two chapters touched on much that my daughter and I pondered/discussed today...riches, fitness, modesty, godliness, knowledge.  

The discussions were initiated by a BIG huff and 'Man! I wish I was rich, then I could...' Knowing what her mother would say she immediately added, 'yes, mom, I know. We are rich, but...':) She must have been doing some thinking because tonight she remarked, "Mom, God's gonna hold North America pretty accountable, isn't He, considering everything our forefathers brought with them in faith etc and how this nation has been blessed and yet many have chosen to forsake what it was founded on...

Yes, He will! 'To whom much is entrusted much will be required'

 "Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:50-52).