In my study this week of Christ's repeated command for the disciples to be watchful (14:34, 37, 38) in Christ's final hour of agony in Gethsemane, I came across Bayer's chapter on "Eight Discipleship Qualities" and "Watching over the Heart" was one. The eight were stated as follows:
- Surrender to God's Will
- Faith in God
- Prayer
- Watching over the Heart
- Humility and Service
- Forgiveness
- Withstanding Temptation
- Confessing Christ
Bayer says, "These core character traits mark each follower as being shaped and transformed by Christ. They are to be understood as the fruit of Christ's impact, not as spiritual disciplines that followers of Christ emulate in their own strength."
Take "Watching over the Heart" for example...This means keeping a vigilant eye on the condition of your heart. We must constantly surrender ourselves to God's will, trust in Him, and pray to Him. We must be watchful so that our heart does not become hard and independent from God (8:17–21; 6:52). We must be watchful so that nothing inappropriate comes out of our heart (7:14–23). We must be watchful so we can radically cut sin and temptation out of our lives as God reveals it (8:33; 9:43–47). We must be watchful so that we don't fall prey to doubt (11:23). We must be watchful so that we don't carelessly mislead others (9:42). We must be watchful so that we don't have wrong attitudes toward our parents (7:10). We must be watchful so that we don't blaspheme the Holy Spirit (3:29).
Look at who Jesus is--He maintains a pure heart in the midst of all temptation (8:33; 14:36; see also Heb 7:5). Learning from His example and being controlled by His lordship in our lives, we should learn to ask ourselves: to what extent am I watchful over my heart in relationship with God? This is the very point the disciples needed to be warned of in the Garden of Gethsemane because their allegiance to Christ would soon be tested at Jesus' capture and crucifixion.
"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation." Mk 14:38
