SCRIPTURE: 1Thessalonians (NIV) 5:1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
OBSERVATION: Paul was writing to believers in the city of Thessalonica. He was explaining the difference between what they had been before they had accepted Jesus as their Lord, and what they are now. They did not have Bibles, but they had the Holy Spirit living inside. With their sins forgiven and the Holy Spirit living inside, they were more aware of what was happening around them in the world. They looked at things differently!
APPLICATION: It is like the world around us is in darkness, but Jesus is light within us. We begin to see things like He sees them. With Jesus living inside, we should expect that He will help us see the world as He sees the world.
Not only will the Holy Spirit change how we see things around us, He wants to express the love of Jesus through us. As we continue to walk with Jesus, His nature will find ways to be expressed through us. The Holy Spirit has been sent to be our teacher.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in love You sent Jesus to die for our sins, then you sent the Holy Spirit to live in those whose sins have been forgiven. Accepting Jesus has made us a new creation with a new life-source within. By your Spirit, speak to our hearts that we may better know your great love and better share that love with those around us. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen
Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!
On Facebook: Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Note: In the past couple of weeks, about 25,000 new believers have joined us in reading the SOAPs. Many do not have Bibles, but they do have the Holy Spirit! They are like the people to whom the Scriptures were first written who also did not have Bibles. Two prayer requests I have for all SOAP readers: 1. Pray that these new believers will learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, and 2. Pray that God will lead me to write SOAPs that will help them grow and all of us to become stronger in our faith. Thank you, Leon.
SOAPs by Pastor Leon 