1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NRSV)
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 5Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. Verse 2For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Verse 3When 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! Verse 4But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; Verse 5for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
Verse 6So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; Verse 7for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. Verse 8But 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. Verse 9For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Verse 10who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.
Verse 11Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
Devotion
I live in Minnesota where the winters are no joke. During the next few months I wouldn’t dare go outside without giving serious thought to what to wear. Dressing well is important. I love the image of being dressed in a breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of the hope of salvation. What a difference it would make if we measured ourselves less by the label on our suits or the height of our heels. What a difference it would make if pastors, teachers, coaches and janitors dressed in order to obtain the salvation of Jesus Christ! “Put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.”
Prayer
Salvation is the destiny we share through Jesus Christ, who died for us. So whether we are awake or asleep, we live in him. Amen.