Article for November 19, 2023
1 Thessalonians 5:4–6 4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
Is it picking on the world, to say the world is in darkness? Do not feel sorry if this picks on the world, just know the world is in “the darkness” but we are the children of light. Remember, you are to be in the world but not of the world. John 15:19; 17:14-16 tells us that we are not of the world because our savior is not of the world.
There is a difference of thought between the true believer and those of the world especially when it comes to God and salvation. Those who believe walk in the light and those who do not believe walk in the darkness, (1 John 1:5-7).
The believer knows whom the thief is that is being talked about in this piece of scripture. The day of the thief is a day we should all constantly be prepared for, for that day is the second coming of the Lord. That day you should, through loving our neighbor, help those who are asleep awake to also be prepared for our Lord’s second coming.
Those who sleep are those who do not believe and those who are asleep do not practice what they claim to believe. In other words, just because one goes to church does not mean they are prepared for the second coming. To take it one step more, even if you are a pastor, that does not mean you are prepared to greet our Lord in heaven. For it is God who calls His own and His own knows Him, (John 10:14).
The question to ask is, are you of this world? For if you are of this world, do you realize this world has a ruler, and he is not God (John 14:30; 16:11). Or are you in the world, are you asleep in the darkness or awake in the light?
1 Thessalonians 5:7–8 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8But 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.
What is faith and love? James tells us that he will show you his faith through his works. This means that James’ works stem from his faith and his faith stems from his heart. From the heart of James also stems his love for God and his love for one another that is, his neighbor, (James 2:18; Mark 12:30-31). From James’ love of God stems his faith and love, which overwhelmingly produces works to further God’s kingdom.
James does not rationalize his faith but knows it as he can feel it swell up within him pouring out in the joy of the works God has called him to do. I know this because I feel this way too, especially when those around me feel it within them. Having faith is not something you carry around in your pocket. Rather faith is something that should show itself. Faith does show itself in every measure whether you realize it or not.
Matthew 25:20–23 20And he who had received the five talents (6,000 days wages, measure of weight 57 – 80 pounds, a metaphor for a measure of responsibilities) came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful (another metaphor for taking responsibility) servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
We look at this scripture and seldom realize what is really going on and what the messages are that we should glean from it. First there is the message of God giving us gifts (talents) to use and what you do or don’t do with them. There is also the message of stewardship that God gives us everything, so you should give back some, not for God to have but for God to have us use to further the ministry of the Body of Christ.
The message we are talking about this time is the message of responsibility and being afraid of taking on responsibility. God gives us the responsibility, as being in the Body of Christ, you are to take this responsibility (talents) for the ministry to partake in growing God’s Church, the Body of Christ. When we are part of the growth then our joy as well as the joy of our Father in heaven grows too.
Well done good and faithful servant. A faithful servant does not sit idly by when the master has work to be done, rather a faithful servant takes joy in what needs to be done and does it for the love of his master. We have a Master who will not let us fail when we are doing the works He has called us to do to further His kingdom. So, you can take on the responsibility God gives you and wants you to do in confidence.
Matthew 25:24–26 24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent(the servant did not take any responsibility given to him) in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26But his master answered him, you wicked and slothful (shrinking, hesitant, and lazy) servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? (Putting the blame on others so as to excuse your own downfalls.)
Our joy measures our faith whether you realize it or not. When you are out in the world, if your joy shows, it works as a witness to your faith for your joy far outshines being happy. Your complacence works to aid the ruler of the world (John 14:30; 16:11).
Do you not realize that Jesus going to the cross was not met with joy but with sadness for the sake of the nature you were stuck in. However, through the works done on the cross bought exceeding joy as it was done through the will of the Father. It is the joy of God that you are saved. You are being saved for His purpose, calling you His child, and equaling you in importance with His Son so that you too can share in the same inheritance given to Him.
Do you not realize the purpose of the crucifixion was to reconcile you to God our Father because He loves you? Are you compelled to have joy, or do you still think your salvation is folly? Are you asleep and therefore do not see our Lord’s great love for you. Or are you prepared for the coming of salvation through the joy of God’s love for you?
See the joy well up in you as you ponder the perfect life that God plans for you, that Christ has prepared for you in His Father’s house. Have you made realizing God’s love a chore? Is worship work for you, or is salvation still not clear to you? Please come and talk to me and let me help you loosen the bonds that keeps the joy of God from you, (Heb. 12:3; Gal 5:22-26; John 3:16-17).
John 17:13-15 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
Let us continue to be in the light and be the children of the day. Let us be that Body of Christ, because Christ gives us His very own body and blood for our sake and for the sake of the Father’s love for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:9–11a 9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up,
Let us share in the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. God help us tell the rest of the world, letting our joy show first when we greet one another and others as well. Let them know “We are the Children of the Day.” We are the children of the light; we are the children of God. Amen.
Written by Pastor Curtis A. May