4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.t 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.-------------------------------------------------------
So, this one is really serious. No one knows the time or date that Jesus is returning. But are we acting like he is going to return? Like he can come at any time?! Probably not to our fullest extent! It's like what we discussed in my d-group this week. There is a man on an airplane who is told that at any moment, the plane that he is on can crash...they offer him a parachute that will save him when that happens. The man gratefully takes the parachute and clings to it, knowing that this will happen. He puts it on and doesn't matter how uncomfortable the situation is, because he knows that on his back, he has what will save his life! Then the plane flight gets longer and longer...and maybe he isn't reminded about the fact the the plane WILL crash...so he starts to get uncomfortable and people have been looking at him like he's a weirdo all along! And now he starts to care...so, he unbuckles the parachute...not really focusing on the reality/Truth that the plane will crash! The plane ride gets longer and still... he is uncomfortable. Unconsciously, he makes the decision in his head that that plane isn't really going to crash...so he ends up taking the parachute off...ten minutes later, then man loses his life as the plane crashes and there was not enough time to put the parachute on...The thing is, the man lost focus on the TRUTH...which was: the plane was going to crash!
We do the same thing! We can lose sight of Jesus, because we think we are immortal...no one really thinks that they are going to die today, or that Jesus will return today. That's why we make plans for tomorrow...but the truth is, we don't know what tomorrow holds!! Only our God. So let's start living for him! Let's realize that this plane/life as we know it...is going to crash and the only thing that can save us is the the armor of faith and love and the helmet that brings us confidence of our salvation. Brothers! Let us STOP doing meaningless things and start living for God!
Love you guys!
16 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
ReplyDeleteIf God is our satisfaction and sole source of identity, then we can give thanks to God for every situation we are placed in. Our joy is not contingent upon our circumstances but is contingent upon God. So no matter whether the times are good and bad, we can find joy. Coming to a greater understanding of who God is and who we are allows us to see what a blessing and gift this next breath we take truly is. Having that eternal perspective puts all troubles and tribulations in the correct light
And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are lazy, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14, HCSB)
ReplyDeleteThis is another call to discipleship and spreading the Gospel. It may be considered "politically correct" to just let people believe whatever they want and not try to show them the truth, but we are called by God to do the opposite, and to help those who are struggling in their faith. Nevertheless, we must do so with compassion and kindness, for those who do not believe are still no more sinners than we are.
12. Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
ReplyDeleteI see this as a major problem with our society because people do not respect leaders and their decisions. As an independent society believe that "I" and better than whomever is leading. We must respect the leaders that God has placed to shepard his church, ministries, missions etc and glean spiritual guidance from them. This is extremely hard at tech and in Theta Xi because we are all leaders in some capacity and we all are very intelligent and believe that our way is the best and only way. We must humble ourselves to follow the leaders that arise from our peers and adults.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
ReplyDeleteRejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
This is probably my favorite instruction on how to live life that didn't come directly out of the mouth of Jesus. I think it is so crucial to rejoice always and to give thanks at all times, but most important of all is to pray without ceasing. How do you get to know someone without talking with them? We have unlimited long-distance minutes to talk with God so we should use them.
5 "You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or darkness."
ReplyDeleteAs we are born again through Christ we are then sons of light. We are taught to avoid evil and darkness. Our light is meant to show the way, the way of Christ and to defeat the evil that is darkness. Since we are born into light, we are dead to sin and darkness is no longer in control to us. We no longer belong to the night, but to Jesus our Lord and Savior.
1 Thessalonians 5:24
ReplyDeleteHe who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
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To quote Misty Edwards, "The Lord said he would come again so he will come again. Surely he is not a man that he would lie." We can rest assured that all that The Lord promised unto us will come true. Our Iniquities shall surely be forgiven, and he shall surely come back to judge the world.
Owen
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeletethis verse provides the utmost peace when thinking about life. We know that we can be sure that God does not want us to to be faced by his wrath, if we do the things he commands of us, but that we will get to share in is compassion, we are not deserving of His love or compassion, however he still gives it to us, so that we do not have to worry about anything, this provides extremem peace and comfort.
14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
ReplyDelete--
I feel this verse speaks out to what I should try to do everyday. I tend to keep to myself and mind my own business without really taking into account others. I'm not necessarily mean to others or do them harm but I often don't see the need in people. This verse tells me to take care of the weak, encourage those who are timid, and have patience with everyone, whereas most of the time these things pass me by unnoticed.
Paul, writing to his friends on THEIR sanctification. "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."
ReplyDelete"Lord would we trust you with the sanctification of our friends, family, and new converts to the faith. Equip us with the spiritual patience and love as You love us and are patient to the end with us."