Watchword: Daily Text

August 10, 2013

I Thessalonians 5: 1-14

Jesus is coming! That fact gives us hope in grieving process.   However, that day is coming soon (relatively speaking) and suddenly.  It’s coming is analogous to thief overtaking a house at night.  In light of the coming of Christ, Paul tells them to adjust their behavior so they will be living godly lives when Christ returns. The advice transcends generations.  Obviously the return of Christ has not yet taken place; we who look to a literal interpretation of Scripture believe that His coming is imminent.  So we order our lives in keeping with His Word.

In other portions of Scripture, Paul mentions parts of the armor of God; here he highlights two: the breastplate and the helmet.  These are likely the two most important pieces. The breastplate protects the heart and the other vital organs.  In Scripture, the heart is a metaphor for the inner man. Proverbs 4:23 warns that we should guard our hearts because “our hearts determine the course of our lives” (NLT).  Our heads direct our thoughts.  Our hearts and our heart are invariably linked. One impinges upon the other – it cannot be helped. What happens in the heart will affect the head a.k.a. the mind.  What happens in the mind will affect the heart.  God has designed it so.

The breastplate of faith relates to whole body of truth, particularly “the belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it the truth of the word of God”[1] e.g.  The Bible is the very Word of God. God is the Eternal one- the Creator of the Universe. Jesus Christ is the Divine Son of God. Salvation is based on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is by grace through faith.   It protects the inner man from the assaults of the evil one when he comes calling with doubts regarding one’s standing with God. We have an enemy. If you have truly trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, he will tempt you to doubt you ever did. That breastplate guards your heart from those attacks and fiery darts of doubt. Remember the basis of your salvation is not your works, but the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on your behalf.

The helmet of salvation protects your head in much the same way. If the devil can’t to your heart – he’ll break into your thoughts.  Protect yourself in the mental areas with the hope of salvation. Hope is not a tenuous emotion, “that I think I might have something,” rather it is a confident expectation that I have it. That’s biblical hope – that will protect your mind from the onslaught of the evil one.  Again, if you have truly put your faith in Christ as your Savior from sin, then your salvation is sealed.  Allow Him to cling to you and live for Him ‘til He comes!

Watchword for today: Jesus is coming. Put on your armor.

 

               

 

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[1] Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for pistis (Strong's 4102)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 11 Aug 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
Strongs=G4102&t=KJV >.