Be Alert and Self-controlled
1 Thessalonians 5v6, 8-11
4th February 2022
In 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 5, verses 1-7, Paul reminds us that we cannot know the date of Jesus Christ's return to earth until it happens. He urges us to spend the intervening time, however long or short that time is, living in the world as those who live in the light of God, not in the darkness. How do we do this? In Verse 6 he told us to "be alert and self-controlled" and in verse 8-11, he says:
1 Thessalonians 5:8-11
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.
He 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.
Let us be alert – alert to every opportunity to tell people about the kingdom of God, every opportunity to serve others, every opportunity to gather for prayer.
Let us be self-controlled, choosing to focus our energy, our thoughts and our time on what's best and most important – Jesus Christ and His kingdom.
In verse 8, Paul urges us for a second time to be self-controlled. We can choose to do what's right, and to say what's loving. None of us always does this, but we can endeavour to do better, and we can pray, asking God to improve our character. And He will.
Paul urges us to put on faith and love as a breastplate, to protect our hearts. If we always trust God, and always love both God and our neighbours, our emotions will be healthy. We will not be infected with doubt or fear or resentment.
Paul also urges us to put on the hope of salvation as a helmet, to protect our minds. If we always remember the certain, beautiful, eternal bliss that will be ours, we will keep our minds focussed on what's important. Some humans will suffer God's eternal wrath on the day of judgement. Jesus will say to them, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). But you and I will receive our eternal salvation. Jesus will say to us, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." (Matthew 25:34). Let us think about these things, to keep us serving God, encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ, and reaching out to our neighbours.
Paul writes:
1 Thessalonians 5:10-11
He 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.
Jesus died so that those believers who are still on earth at His coming, and those who will have died and gone to be with Him in Paradise, may live with Him for ever. Hallelujah!
We all get down sometimes. We all get discouraged. We all get tired. We all get tempted. We all fall, sometimes. We need each other. We need to be encouraged, and we need to encourage one another. We need to build each other up. We all, I hope, want to be the best we can be for Jesus. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
I need to say two more things.
Firstly, weep for those who will be lost. Don't judge them. Don't mock them. Don't look down your nose at them. Weep for them. Pray for them. Love them. Maybe you'll get the chance to convince them that Jesus is real, that He loves them, that His death on the cross paid for their sins. And then they'll join us as children of God.
Secondly, never forget that you're not better than them. Never imagine that you deserve salvation and they deserve rejection. Always remind yourself that God chose you, not because you're superior in any way, but for different reasons, that we're not allowed to know. Saving you was God's sovereign choice. Let us give thanks to Him every day, remembering that we're saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
And let us get on with the work of the kingdom of God, to the glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.