Good afternoon to you all and blessed new year as you continue to walk with the Lord!
May this devotional encourage you to spend time praying and digging into the word and loving God and your neighbour more and more:
1 Thessalonians 5:4 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.
Commentary:
In the previous number of verses we talked about the day of the Lord. Most of us understand that the day of the Lord to be the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Now, as we read verses 4-6 we are finding out that only those who live in the darkness within the church will be surprised with Jesus’ second coming. Those who live in the light or in the day and are awake and sober, called the children of the light, will not be surprised by the second coming of Christ.
There is a purpose of us who live in the light to be called children of the day. Children are completely reliant upon their Savior and Christ.
Verse 5 says that we do not belong to the dark because we belong to the light.
Prayer: O Dear Holy Spirit lead me in such a way today that I reflect Your light dear Jesus for Your glory and honor and for my joy. Amen
Commentary:
I was tossing which verse to expand upon, verse 5 or verse 6 but verse 6 seems to have more practical application: Romans 13:11-12 And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. / The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Ephesians 5:14 So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Matthew 24:42-44 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. / But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. / For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.
Mark 13:33-37 Be on your guard and stay alert! For you do not know when the appointed time will come. / It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. / Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. ...
Luke 21:34-36 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. / For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. / So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Reflection: Keep watch at all times and pray so that we have strength to escape all dissipation and worries of life so we can stand before Jesus Christ and give account to Him regularly.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Revelation 3:2-3 Wake up and strengthen what remains, which is about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God. / Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.
Commentary:
Staying physically awake 24/7 is impossible. So, we seem to have been called to be awake during the day and involved in activities that keep us awake and that we can stay standing in our saving relationship with Jesus Christ while accomplishing our mission He is calling us for.
Prayer: That is what I desire to do so help me God. Amen
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
2 Peter 3:10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
Matthew 25:13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Luke 12:35-40 Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. / Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. / Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. ...
Commentary:
If we connect this text to Matthew 25 we can find that most likely extra oil is poured upon those who choose to serve the Lord. That is how we have extra oil and do not fall asleep doing our own things for the same has be given to Jesus’ disciples when they were involved in the Great Commission. That is call for me to be involved in God’s service regularly, daily.
Proverbs 6:9-11 How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? / A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, / and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
Isaiah 56:10 Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
Joel 1:5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep; wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth.
Prayer: When I am awake and working durring 6 days dear Lord may I do honest work for You dear Lord for my joy and Your glory and honor. Amen
Peter Caran
Pastor of Cobourg and Harmony Churches