1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NRSV)
The breastplate of faith and love
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
DEVOTION
I really appreciate the analogy found in today’s scripture which compares the second coming of Christ to the labor pains that come upon a pregnant woman. It tickled me when I read, “destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!”
This made me laugh because I remember my birthing instructor telling all the soon-to-be dads in my class that at some point every woman in labor will say, “I don’t want to do this! I’m done! Let’s go home! We can come back later!” Whilst it is abundantly obvious to the father and the hospital personnel that there is no turning back once a child decides to emerge, the mother is often in denial of this very critical point…
Likewise, when the son of God decides to return in glory, there will be no postponement! Jesus will simply return in victory to reclaim The Church and to establish His Kingdom!
Since this is true, Paul reminds us in the book of Thessalonians that Christians ought to remain “awake and sober…putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of salvation.”
Jesus’ return to the earth ought not to take any Christian by surprise! Jesus has promised to return to establish a new heaven and a new earth. Since we know that all of God’s promises are “Yay and Amen,” then we ought to be advent people full of the glorious hope of Jesus’ return!
As we wait for Jesus to come, we are to be about the business of advancing the Kingdom of Love on Earth until Jesus comes from Heaven. We are to be bearers of the good news message of salvation! We are to build people up and not tear people down!
Recently one of my Twitter friends wrote, “The problem with the evangelism strategy of most Christians is that we try to clean the fish before we catch them!”
My friends, it ought not to be a shock to us when our non-Christian friends sleep walk through life, oblivious to the things of God, drunk on the wine of life! Rather than tearing them down by constantly harping on the bad news of their existence, let us be good news people sharing the Love and Light of Jesus Christ!
Our most sacred duty is to help guide our non-Christian friends out of the darkness and into the marvelous light! It is our greatest honor to introduce them to Jesus who is the Light of the World!
Isn’t it grand that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life?
God’s unconditional love and amazing grace is able to illuminate even the darkest of nights! As we faithfully witness to our non-Christian friends, with a non-judgmental attitude that conveys loving-kindness and tender mercy, our good news message of salvation will change hearts and minds and turn souls back to our good God.
Won’t it be marvelous to be in the company of all of our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers when Jesus returns in glory?!
Let us work while it is still day sharing the good news that Jesus saves and He saves to the utmost!
Will you share good news with someone today? If so, please pray with me:
Great and good God, thank you for loving us so much that you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. Thank you that Jesus did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day just like He promised! Now, I am looking forward to another promise—the second coming of Jesus in glory! Please help me to live like I am anticipating His return at any moment. Please help me to share Your salvation story with everyone that I meet and make me a bearer of good news everywhere I go! I love you and I want to share our love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
LYRICS-WAKE, AWAKE, FOR NIGHT IS FLYING (Text/Music Philipp Nicolai)
Wake, awake, for night is flying; The watchmen on the heights are crying: Awake, Jerusalem, at last! Midnight hears the welcome voices And at the thrilling cry rejoices; Come forth, ye virgins, night is past; The Bridegroom comes, awake; Your lamps with gladness take; Alleluia! And for His marriage feast prepare For ye must go and meet Him there.
Zion hears the watchmen singing, And all her heart with joy is springing; She wakes, she rises from her gloom; For her Lord comes down all glorious, The strong in grace, in truth victorious. Her Star is risen, her Light is come. Ah come, Thou blessèd One, God’s own belovèd Son: Alleluia! We follow till the halls we see Where Thou hast bid us sup with Thee.
Now let all the heavens adore Thee, And saints and angels sing before Thee, With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone; Of one pearl each shining portal, Where we are with the choir immortal Of angels round Thy dazzling throne; Nor eye hath seen, nor ear hath yet attained to hear What there is ours, but we rejoice and sing to Thee Our hymn of joy eternally.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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PUT ALL OF YOUR HOPE IN JESUS--If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com
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