1 Thessalonians 5:7-8

1 Thessalonians 5:7-8

For the ones who sleep, sleep at night.  And the ones who are made drunk are drunk at night.  But we, while being of the day, should be sober-minded while clothing ourselves in a breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of the hope of salvation.  

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul then talks about behavior.  Those who sleep and get drunk do so at night which such behavior is acceptable – and even common!  On the other hand, those who are not of the world will not engage in worldly behavior.  We will be sober-minded.  We will think and question and consider the consequences before simply acting.  We will be able to do what is best for the community around us instead of what is best for ourselves.

Are you sober-minded?  Are you able to be a person of the light instead of a person in human darkness?

Second Thought:

While living in the light, we start with the breastplate of faith and love.  First of all, let’s remember what the breastplate did.  The breastplate protected the heart and vital organs.  The breastplate kept the core of the person secure.  So what is it that keeps the vital core of a spiritual human secure?  What else could it be except love and faith?  Faith is God’s relationship with us.  Love is our reflection of that relationship back to God and out towards the world.

How is your faith?  How is your love?  In what ways do these two things keep you secure?

Third Thought:

 From faith and love Paul turns to the helmet of the hope of salvation.  If we think about what the helmet protects, it protects our head.  The head is the center of logic and rational thought.  However, we as human beings tend to doubt.  Human beings tend to have our thoughts turned away from God.  So what is it that we need to bring our thoughts back in line?  What is it that overcomes all doubt?  Quite simply, it is the hope of eternal life!  What else is better at keeping us focused on God than remember the joy we will have in eternity with Him?

When you doubt, why does the hope of eternity help you out?  When you are tempted into sinful thoughts, why does the hope of eternal life help you resist such thoughts?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11