1 Thessalonians 5:7-11 says,...
Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 5:7-11, which reads,
v.7, 8 - For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
Paul has been giving the Thessalonians comforting words about loved ones who were "in" Christ and have passed away and our reuniting with them and the Lord. He is also reinforcing instruction that he had given them when with them about the coming of the Lord and the coming of God's judgment. Paul continues on here.
Those who are not "in" Christ are "drunk" or overcome by actions and attitudes that dishonor God and live for themselves rather than for the Lord. Paul continues to make the contrast that the Christians are to be so different, they are "night" and we are "day." We are not to be overcome (drunk) with something in control of our actions but rather "sober" with clearly the Holy Spirit in charge of our words, actions, and attitudes.
I also wonder if this is the first thought or introduction of the later "armor of God" passage with two of the elements here, the breastplate and the helmet. What is firmly in place for the Christian, right out front like a breastplate protecting out most vital organs to live is our faith and love. What is on our head and protecting our mind is our helmet as we set our thoughts on our salvation.
v.9, 10 - For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
Paul is telling the Thessalonian Christians that God has called them and God has a future for them that does not include the wrath of those who are not "in" Christ. God called them to have salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of that salvation, whether we are alive when He comes again or whether we have passed on before that happening, we will be with Him forever.
v.11 - Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
I know that I have been wading through a passage of scripture that could take us into many directions with interpretations of the end times but I have tried to keep this devotion focused on just the reading of this passage and the context of Paul's readers. Paul is saying these words to comfort and encourage the Thessalonian Christians. He is giving these words about the end of times and the end of life to be used by them with each other as they live lives in face of persecution. They are already doing this but Paul encourages them to do this all the more.
Is this part of our conversation with other Christians and within the church? Do we talk about the end of life and the end of times in light of how we live our lives today? A popular phrase today is "I just want them to be happy, whatever makes them happy." Paul might be saying the phrase this way, "I just want them to be holy, whatever makes them holy." I think we need to be of the second phrase when it comes to ourselves and to those around us. Happy is nice but holy is essential. Holy is what gets you through the not so happy times.
"Lord, we look too much to instant gratification and self pleasure that we miss Your provision when we lean on You for fulfillment and needs. We spend time looking for something of the world to make us feel good rather than resting in Your goodness for us. You have provided so much that we have yet to experience but I am afraid we are going to miss it if we are not focused on You. Turn my eyes upon Jesus today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.7, 8 - For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
Paul has been giving the Thessalonians comforting words about loved ones who were "in" Christ and have passed away and our reuniting with them and the Lord. He is also reinforcing instruction that he had given them when with them about the coming of the Lord and the coming of God's judgment. Paul continues on here.
Those who are not "in" Christ are "drunk" or overcome by actions and attitudes that dishonor God and live for themselves rather than for the Lord. Paul continues to make the contrast that the Christians are to be so different, they are "night" and we are "day." We are not to be overcome (drunk) with something in control of our actions but rather "sober" with clearly the Holy Spirit in charge of our words, actions, and attitudes.
I also wonder if this is the first thought or introduction of the later "armor of God" passage with two of the elements here, the breastplate and the helmet. What is firmly in place for the Christian, right out front like a breastplate protecting out most vital organs to live is our faith and love. What is on our head and protecting our mind is our helmet as we set our thoughts on our salvation.
v.9, 10 - For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
Paul is telling the Thessalonian Christians that God has called them and God has a future for them that does not include the wrath of those who are not "in" Christ. God called them to have salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of that salvation, whether we are alive when He comes again or whether we have passed on before that happening, we will be with Him forever.
v.11 - Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
I know that I have been wading through a passage of scripture that could take us into many directions with interpretations of the end times but I have tried to keep this devotion focused on just the reading of this passage and the context of Paul's readers. Paul is saying these words to comfort and encourage the Thessalonian Christians. He is giving these words about the end of times and the end of life to be used by them with each other as they live lives in face of persecution. They are already doing this but Paul encourages them to do this all the more.
Is this part of our conversation with other Christians and within the church? Do we talk about the end of life and the end of times in light of how we live our lives today? A popular phrase today is "I just want them to be happy, whatever makes them happy." Paul might be saying the phrase this way, "I just want them to be holy, whatever makes them holy." I think we need to be of the second phrase when it comes to ourselves and to those around us. Happy is nice but holy is essential. Holy is what gets you through the not so happy times.
"Lord, we look too much to instant gratification and self pleasure that we miss Your provision when we lean on You for fulfillment and needs. We spend time looking for something of the world to make us feel good rather than resting in Your goodness for us. You have provided so much that we have yet to experience but I am afraid we are going to miss it if we are not focused on You. Turn my eyes upon Jesus today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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