March 02, 2022 – Wednesday
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NIV
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
Comment.
If you read the above and are wondering what Paul is talking about in verse 4, we have to go to the first three verses, 1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. The day of the Lord Paul is addressing here is what we call the rapture and he writes much more about it in the prior chapter as well as verse 10 in chapter 1, wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
The Thessalonians were worried that the dead would miss out on the rapture when Jesus returns for His church. Paul sought to reassure them about those who were dead, sleeping, and those still alive. So he writes the following in chapter 4 to set their minds at ease, 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
In our verses for today Paul begins by repeating what Jesus said in Matthew 24, 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Paul had already taught this, but now sought to remind them by writing, But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
Everyone will be surprised. However, Paul reminds us of who we are as Christians and how we should be behaving not knowing when Jesus will return, 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. Then Paul adds these powerful verses to make his point even stronger, 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
As children of the light and of the day we are not to lose hope and we do that by putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. The Thessalonians were going through many trials and tribulations just as Christians had gone through and were going through in Jerusalem, so Paul said they were to Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. They were to continue their walk with Jesus, just as we are instructed to do.
Bottom Line: Be encouraged as children of the light and of the day while encouraging one another. Make the best of the days we have here as we have the incredible promise of eternity with Jesus in heaven.
Note: If you would like more teaching on this, suggest going here and then here in sequence from the recent Calvary Chapel Southeast Pastors’ Conference at Merritt Island, Florida.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for Paul’s writing that prepares us for the worst while reminding us, we have such great hope for the very best. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek