LIVE AND WALK IN THE LIGHT

Monday, 18th July 2016

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

2 .For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

3. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

4. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

5. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

6. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

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

8. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

9. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10. who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

One major problem which confronted the Thessalonian believers was their anxiety to know the exact date of the coming of the Lord. This is quite natural as it would help them to be better prepared. But no such information was given then, nor is any given now. All that is necessary to know is that it will come “like a thief in the night” (v. 2). The implication of this is that the Christian must live his life on earth in daily anticipation of this event.

Unlike the unbelievers who live in the darkness of sin, the child of God should not live a life of habitual sin (1 John 3: 3-4). His thoughts should not be consumed by the passions and pleasures of the flesh. He should walk “in” and “with” God so that he will have no occasion to stumble, for God is light. He should know that God is holy; therefore, he must live a holy life as long as he walks upon this earth, so that he can shine daily as the light of the world. ”A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matt. 5:14). A Christian has a duty to shine so that in him and through him, the world may see the beauty of Jesus Christ

Prayer: Dear Lord, enable me, by your grace to so live my life every day, that Your coming will not take me unawares.