1 Thessalonians 5:5-9
- You are all sons of the light and sons of
the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us
not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who
sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But
since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled,
putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of
salvation as a helmet. For God
did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul knew well the power of light…he wrote many of his best
words of wisdom powered by the light of Christ’s love….as he sat in the dark ….dim…dungeons
of a prison. But this letter….probably
written as he arrived in Corinth…was written in the light of day…as he sat
waiting for some word that these new Christians were withstanding the
persecutions that forced him to leave. Paul reminds them of the armor they should
wear to protect them…especially the breastplate and the helmet.
He tells us to put on faith and love…to protect our
heart. Not an accident I think…that a
quick Google search produced an article … http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/the-power-of-faith-0 …that totally supported Paul’s statement. It
seems that faith…believing in a positive way in something we can’t see…reduces
stress…helps us reduce anger…and helps us not to worry. I love it when the scientific world supports
the bible! And…Paul tells us to put on a helmet…the helmet of salvation…to
protect our brains …to help us become righteous….after all he already told us
how important faith is to our salvation in Romans 3:22-23, “This righteousness
from God comes through faith in Jesus
Christ to all who believe. There is no
difference, for all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God”
Jesus himself even spoke of these three needs in Matthew 23:23…speaking
to the Pharisees and Scribes…who were not tithing any mercy (love) or faith, “Woe
to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected
the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the
former.” He was pretty blunt with them…he must still be pretty disappointed
in us for not getting this right!
One of the most powerful scriptures I have read is found in
Habakkuk 2:2-4, “ Then the LORD replied: "Write down
the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may
run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it
speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it
linger, wait for it; it will certainly
come and will not delay. "See, he is puffed up;
his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith” … I believe that Paul’s great wisdom was powered by his
knowledge of the scripture he must have studied as a boy….scripture that was
carried in his heart and soul…scripture that Paul himself referred to in Romans
1:17, “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a
righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just
as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Father….thank you for the gift of salvation. Help me to dress myself today in faith and
love …to put on my helmet of salvation that you paid such a high price for.
Teach me Lord to walk in your ways and love and show justice and mercy to
all. Help me to search even more
passionately for the wisdom in your gospel…from the first page to the last….to
seek your purpose and will for my
life. Strengthen my heart Lord…help me
to place these great scriptures in my soul…so that they will rule my every
action and deed. Amen.
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