WE SHOULDN'T SLEEP: Devotion for Saturday August 15, 2015

WE SHOULDN'T SLEEP           Saturday August 15, 2015

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:6 – 10       Memory verse: v 6   

T

he challenge Paul mentioned in 5:1 led to his admonition here that we should not sleep (5:6). What is that challenge? No one knows the day of the Lord. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to conform to God’s light, not the darkness that leads to destruction in the day of the Lord. Since the day of the Lord will result in judgment for the wicked and deliverance for the righteous, self-examination was important. This advice is very important for us Christians too.

Believers are associated with ‘light’ (spiritually enlightened because of the new birth) rather than ‘darkness’ (the realm of sin and spiritual emptiness). The coming of the Lord should motivate believers to be mentally alert and morally vigilant. Paul used an illustration of a Roman soldier on duty (5:8). Beloved are you asleep? Are you compromising or complacent? The actual time we don’t know. Therefore let us be ready like the wise virgins (Matthew 25:1 – 13).

Action: List some characteristics of a Christian who is asleep.

Prayer: Make me spiritually alert O Lord so that I will not be taken unaware when you return in Jesus name.