When it comes to world events, are we still as zealous about watching things unfold as we were in years past? Or, after all these years, do we subconsciously feel, "I've watched for so long, and I've gotten so excited only to be let down. I just don't have the energy to get excited again"?

Matthew 24:42-44 says: "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Thieves usually come in the middle of the night when people are sleeping. Christ tells us that our state of mind is to be one of watchfulness, and we are to stay ready so we won't be caught off-guard.

So, then, what are some things we can do to make sure we're awake and watching and staying zealous as we see prophetic events unfold?

1. Be watchful.

Today the resources are readily available to help us stay on top of what's going on throughout the world. The Church has resources available such as World News and Prophecy and the "Current World News & Trends" section on our Web site that is updated regularly (www.ucg.org/worldnews/).

2. Ask God for zeal.

The principle found in James 1:5 applies. If we don't feel we're as zealous as we should be, we can go to God and ask Him for zeal. And He'll give it to us.

3. Be involved in the work.

When we're involved in helping the Church to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom to this world, our minds are less focused on ourselves. We get excited about seeing the work grow, and that in turn helps generate zeal.

Every day we're closer than ever to the glorious return of Jesus Christ and the time when He'll end all the problems that are just going to get worse from here. What a wonderful future God has in store for us and the entire world! So let's be watchful, ask God for the zeal we need and continue to do our part in the Church's commission.

Let's be zealous!