“Mom, get the book about the baby and the big brother.”
“I’ve read that story to you kids a hundred times. How about something new?”
My three young children and I were at the public library choosing our weekly stack of books. While there were shelves and shelves of wonderful selections, they gravitated to their favorites, this one in particular.
In the story, the mother asked her son, someone who was certainly old enough, to watch the baby while she went outside to hang up the laundry on the line. While she was gone, the baby got into all sorts of mischief, knocking over lamps, tipping over the dog’s water dish, and an assortment of other disasters. At the end, the mother returns to the chaos and chastises her older child: “I told you to watch the baby!” He promptly responds, “But I did! I watched him the whole time!”
Many people think of the Lord God strictly as a disinterested observer. He’s watching the world, but He doesn’t get involved. He keeps track of things, monitoring our behavior. He has us under surveillance, looking for a slip-up. He keeps an eye on us. He sees us and knows what we’re doing. It reminds me of my mother’s favorite phrase when she was scolding me: “I have to watch you like a hawk!” Proverbs 15:3 says: “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” If that’s true, we often wonder, then why doesn’t He do something!
Contrary to this belief about His nature, there are so many stories and verses in the Bible that assure us that our Lord God is personally involved in the world and in us. He is actively watching over us to protect us and keep us safe. The psalmist reminds us of His care: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (32:8).
The Lord kept watch over the Israelites when they were captive in Egypt (Exodus 3:16; Deuteronomy 2:7) and when they returned from exile (Ezra 5:5). Even Job in all of his misery recognized what God had done for him: “You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit” (Job10:12). Psalm 121 is full of times and ways the Lord watches over us. And like those shepherds in the fields the night our Lord Jesus was born, our God has that same caring connection with us (Jeremiah 31:10; John 10:14-15).
The Lord Jesus is also concerned about how we respond to this world. We are warned to watch out for people who want to deceive us and lead us away from Him. We are to be on our guard against greed and the lure of worldly possessions (Luke 12:15). We need to watch our step and our mouths so that our lives will reflect our love for our Lord Jesus.
How we watch as leaders tells a lot about our relationship with the Lord Jesus. If we are simply taking note of what is going on, then we are like that brother who thinks he only has to observe. That baby’s actions are not his responsibility. But if we ignore those who are causing conflict there could be a general outbreak of hostility. Galatians 5:15 warns, “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” On the other hand, if we’re only looking to find fault, jumping in to criticize and correct, we are missing our true calling as a boss, a principal, a manager, a parent.
If we take seriously our responsibility when what is happening is “on our watch,” we pay careful attention so we can deal with any problems or changes that need to be made. We spend our time counseling and teaching, not condemning. We are shepherds of those the Lord has put under our care, “watching over them — not because [we] must, but because [we] are willing… eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2). This is the leadership our Lord is looking for.
As for me personally, I have some watching to do. “I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior” (Micah 7:7). But until that day when He comes again in all of His glory or when He comes to take me home to heaven, I have some other watching to do. I’m watching for ways to serve those who I am called to lead. But most of all I’m watching myself to be sure I’m living my life as a thank you to my Lord Jesus.
Christine Vogelsang is a teacher, musician, pastor’s wife, and mother of three adult children. For almost forty years her family enjoyed the love of congregations in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Southern California. She has earned her master’s degree in education, taught at various schools (from kindergarten to college) and served as music director for twenty-five years at their last church.
While writing and speaking about the joy of being God’s child has always been a part of her life, it wasn’t until her weekly inspirational blogs (restoringthejoy.net) gained an international following that Christine decided to publish her first book. She has also written and produced three plays about people and events in the Gospels that bring these ancient stories to life.
Christine and her husband have retired from full time church work; however, her blog ministry continues to grow. She recently completed her Restoring the Joy: Leaving My Guilt at the Cross book series (available through Amazon) and is scheduling more speaking engagements that highlight her spiritual passion: joy without guilt!
