Bee Ready

*DISCLAIMER* BIBLE CONTENT



This morning, I have a bit of devotional thought to share with you. Our church is going through I Thessalonians and I gave it a quick read this morning before the rest of the house was stirring. I'm a big fan of Paul's epistles - short and sweet. Paul and I would have gotten along fine, no unnecessary details. As I read something through, my mind is always struggling to see the structure or the "point". In this regard, this letter written to the Thessalonians is different indeed.

As I see it, Paul spends four chapters encouraging the Thessalonians, telling them they're doing a great job. OK, so what's next - nobody is marrying their mom, or eating questionable things, or propagating some crazed teaching... Could you not just send these people a postcard with a thumbs up?

In the last chapter, we get some good advice followed by rapid fire teaching. This particular set of verses struck me as significant.

"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁰He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

I was struck by the amount of uncertainty there is about this life. At this time in Paul's career, he was convinced that the Lord was coming back any time. We should live this way. If there is anything that bugs me, its when I'm getting ready to walk out the door and not a single child has shoes on. I shall always preach a "shoes on"type of readiness.

Amy and I are preparing to buy a house, and exciting as that is... we can only see so far in front of us. Thankfully, God sees all the way in front of us - and we can proceed with that type of assurance. That's how I relate the Bible to our ordinary life.