Live as Children of the Light
1 Thessalonians 5:4-10: "But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him."
Paul warned the church of Thessalonica - with the second coming of Jesus there would be judgement and condemnation for those who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Paul doesn't stop there. Therefore, these believers are to stop focusing on the unbelievers, the unregenerate in heart and to focus on living godly lives. Paul reminded them of who they are: "children of the light." Light shines in the darkness and illuminates that darkness. Paul exhorted the people of the church to shine in the darkness of the surrounding world. The light of Christ is always greater than the darkness. As Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, his followers are to be the light of the world, and they are to let their light shine before others (Matthew 5:14-16).
As God's beloved children, the people of the church are not to emulate the world. Paul said believers must stay awake and alert to the work of the Lord, to be sober-minded as to discern what God is doing and saying. This alertness allowed them to live fruitful lives unto the Lord as opposed to getting dragged down into the mire of the unfaithful.
Be a light that shines in the darkness, be alert and aware of the Lord and what he is doing. Then Paul said to recognize the ongoing warfare and to be properly clothed for that warfare. An awake life, a sober life recognized what was required to thrive and prosper. Paul instructed the believers to put on the garments of faith, "having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Faith, hope, and love - these are the garments Paul called these believers to wear as they are the essential traits of a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.
Paul would speak the same words of exhortation to us today that he spoke to the Thessalonians in his day. We are to let our light shine in this dark world; we are to live as children of the light, not hiding our sin but allowing Jesus to cleanse and heal us so that we can live transparent lives free of guilt and shame. We are to clothe ourselves in the garments of faith, hope, and love. The light of Jesus will shine in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. This is true for us today in the spiritual warfare, and it will be even more true as the day of the Lord finally comes to drive out the darkness and establish the kingdom of light. May we be expectant and ready!
Reflection:
What does it look like for you to be covered in the garments of faith, hope, and love?
Paul warned the church of Thessalonica - with the second coming of Jesus there would be judgement and condemnation for those who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Paul doesn't stop there. Therefore, these believers are to stop focusing on the unbelievers, the unregenerate in heart and to focus on living godly lives. Paul reminded them of who they are: "children of the light." Light shines in the darkness and illuminates that darkness. Paul exhorted the people of the church to shine in the darkness of the surrounding world. The light of Christ is always greater than the darkness. As Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, his followers are to be the light of the world, and they are to let their light shine before others (Matthew 5:14-16).
As God's beloved children, the people of the church are not to emulate the world. Paul said believers must stay awake and alert to the work of the Lord, to be sober-minded as to discern what God is doing and saying. This alertness allowed them to live fruitful lives unto the Lord as opposed to getting dragged down into the mire of the unfaithful.
Be a light that shines in the darkness, be alert and aware of the Lord and what he is doing. Then Paul said to recognize the ongoing warfare and to be properly clothed for that warfare. An awake life, a sober life recognized what was required to thrive and prosper. Paul instructed the believers to put on the garments of faith, "having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation" (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Faith, hope, and love - these are the garments Paul called these believers to wear as they are the essential traits of a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.
Paul would speak the same words of exhortation to us today that he spoke to the Thessalonians in his day. We are to let our light shine in this dark world; we are to live as children of the light, not hiding our sin but allowing Jesus to cleanse and heal us so that we can live transparent lives free of guilt and shame. We are to clothe ourselves in the garments of faith, hope, and love. The light of Jesus will shine in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. This is true for us today in the spiritual warfare, and it will be even more true as the day of the Lord finally comes to drive out the darkness and establish the kingdom of light. May we be expectant and ready!
Reflection:
What does it look like for you to be covered in the garments of faith, hope, and love?
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