November 29, 2021: SOAP #4379:  1Thesalonians 4-5; 2Thessalonians 1-3

SCRIPTURE:  1Thessalonians (NIV) 5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 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. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

OBSERVATION: The world is spiritually dark around us.  The darkness lulls people to sleep.  They are unaware of the trouble presently around us nor of that coming upon us.  Nighttime is when many in the world get drunk as a way of escaping their troubles.  Not only does it hinder them from dealing with their present troubles; it hinders them from dealing with the coming troubles.

Christ died that we might enjoy an eternal relationship with Him! We will enjoy this relationship whether we are living or have died. Whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead), we are alive with Him!   Even now in this life we “live together” with Him!  How much more in the life to come will we “live together” with Him!

APPLICATION:  There is a difference in who we are.  There is a difference in Whose we are!  There is a difference in our circumstances.  There is a difference in our understanding.  SO there should be a difference in how we live.  OTHERS are asleep, but let US be awake.  Living in the day, aware of the trouble around us, we should be self-controlled.  We carefully choose our actions and re-actions. We have authority over our bodies; we choose to act in ways honoring God.

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, it brings me great joy to be your child!  May I bring you great joy in how I live as a child of the Most High God! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!