Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
(ESV)
—1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
by: Jasmine Lynch.
At the time of this writing, our world is in turmoil: People are dying from the pandemic; the Prime Minister of England has resiged under pressure; the Japanese Prime Minister was recently assassinated; Ukraine is under attack by Russia; the United States democracy is under attack. Paul’s writing to the Thessalonians is relevant to us: “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them” (v.3, NKJV). We have no time to wipe the tears of those witnessing mass murder before another strikes. As children of light, do not be surprised: “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation”(v.9, NKJV).
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