Thursday 26 November, 2020

5 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. 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. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 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.

This passage of Scripture has a title, The Day of the Lord, which is a phrase that we see in the Old Testament, referring to the time when God will come and intervene with judgment and/or blessing. However, in the New Testament the theme of judgment continues but is also referred to as the say of redemption.  The Hope of Jesus has changed the perspective and this is due to the fact we as Christians, thankfully, no longer live in the darkness but are children of the light.  I love that Paul directly links this with the action that as Christians we get to walk out.  We get to put on the armour of Faith, Love and Hope.  ‘Putting on’ requires intention and action.  Faith produces action, which needs to be expressed through Love and grounded in the eternal Hope.  This is the Christian walk, and our privilege. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the Redemption that we have in Jesus.  That he died so that we can be in relationship with him.  Help us today to put on the breastplate of Faith and Love and the Helmet of Salvation, so that we may live in a way that reflects you to the rest of the world. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Written by Ps. Annique Botta