Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Day of the Lord - the second coming of Jesus  

1 Thessalonians 5:4-11

In this Epistle apostle Paul is writing to Thessalonians that the day of the Lord will not overtake them the day of the Lord will arrive like a thief in the Night which is not a welcome event. Also, it brings God’s wrath upon believers, where as Christians -Children of the light will experience full salvation at the rapture. This final salvation motivates Christians to encourage one another.
In verses 4-5 is the basis for Paul’s exhortations: 
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as thief. You are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
 
This part of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 distinguishes between children of darkness and children of light. Children of light can look forward to the rapture with hope. Children of darkness must look forward hopelessly to the day of the lord. In this verse Paul identifies himself and the Thessalonian Christians as Children of light, children of the day.” He affirms that they are not of the night or of the darkness.” They were once in the dark about spiritual matters, but the holy spirit shone the light of the Gospel into their hearts, and they believed in Jesus, The light of the world.
 
In verses 6-8 Paul’s exhortations: be awake, be sober and watchful.
Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be a sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 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. The apostle Peter also appeals for sobriety -meaning self-discipline and watchfulness, similarly he writes to be sober -minded be watchful.
This passage assures us that the believers will not experience the tribulation. The day of the Lord will commence unexpectedly, like the arrival of a thief at night, it is described as a time of darkness with dreadful consequences.
In verses 9-10 – The security of our future 
For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Paul instructs them to be stay alert and self-disciplined. He urges them not to” sleep “appealing to them not to be uncaring but to be alert and self-disciplined and watch for the Lord’s return to take them to heaven.
 
In verses 11 -Our privilege: comfort one another 
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. Paul again tells us not to take comfort, but to give comfort. If all Christians have a heart to comfort each other, then all will be comforted 

Prayer

Prayer For the Second Coming of Jesus. Lord Jesus Christ, we come before You today asking You to remember us during Your second coming to judge the living and the dead. We acknowledge that You are the savior of the world and that You died on the cross to save us from our sins. We beg You, dear Jesus, to give us the strength to resist all evils that may come our way.

Thought for the day

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.

Mrs Anitha John
   The Mar Thoma Church Staten Island

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