Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Saturday, 25 November 2017 "Wear Your Armor" by Elizabeth Aliotta - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-111 Thessalonians 5:1 But you have no need to have anything written to you, brothers, about the times and dates when this will happen; 2 because you yourselves well know that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is so peaceful and secure,” then destruction will suddenly come upon them, the way labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there is no way they will escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in the dark, so that the Day should take you by surprise like a thief; 5 for you are all people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We don’t belong to the night or to darkness, 6 so let’s not be asleep, like the rest are; on the contrary, let us stay alert and sober. 7 People who sleep, sleep at night; and people who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us stay sober, putting on trust and love as a breastplate and the hope of being delivered as a helmet.[1 Thessalonians 5:8 Isaiah 59:17] 9 For God has not intended that we should experience his fury, but that we should gain deliverance through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 10 who died on our behalf so that whether we are alive or dead, we may live along with him. 11 Therefore, encourage each other, and build each other up — just as you are doing.
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The battle between good and evil is a frequent theme in many works of literature. The heroes are constantly pressured to fight back and keep evil from winning. They leave their homes, practice their skills, and put on their armor. They remain alert and ready at all times.
Paul instructed the Thessalonians to wear armor and to remain alert and ready. As children of the day, Paul expected them to be prepared to keep back the dark. His instructions are similar to those that soldiers receive when preparing for a battle. He told the Thessalonians to remain sober and to put on the breastplate of faith and love along with the helmet of salvation.
These are the characteristics that the children of light are meant to embody. By remaining sober and alert, the children of light can avoid being deceived. Heroes often fight for their loved ones and are willing to make any sacrifice necessary. Faith provides hope that the battle can be won, and it is through the salvation God provides that His children can stand strong.---
Hymn for Today: "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" by Charles Wesley
1. Soldiers of Christ, arise,
and put your armor on,
strong in the strength which God supplies
through His eternal Son;
strong in the Lord of hosts
and in His mighty pow'r,
who in the strength of Jesus trusts
is more than conqueror.
2. Stand then in His great might,
with all His strength endued,
and take, to aid you in the fight,
the panoply of God.
From strength to strength go on,
wrestle and fight and pray;
tread all the pow'rs of darkness down
and win the well-fought day.
3. Leave no unguarded place,
no weakness of the soul;
take ev'ry virtue, ev'ry grace,
and fortify the whole.
That, having all things done
and all your conflicts past,
ye may o'ercome through Christ alone
and stand complete at last.
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Thought for Today: Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary.(Ephesians 6:11)
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Please pray: For the child development programs that minister to children in Mesoamerca.
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