1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 — The 10th Day of Thessmas!

READ THIS: 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11

5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Is this 1 Thessalonians or Ephesians?! These verses reference several passages that Paul writes in his letter to the believers in Ephesus (which is super cool for those of us who go to Grace Sunday services, because we just finished Ephesians)! If Paul wrote lots of these words to more than just one church, we know they must be important for all believers in Jesus to know!

The first two verses here are also talked about in Ephesians 5:8-11. In both of these letters, Paul says that we should belong to the light, not the dark, and our actions and lives reflect what we belong to. God and Jesus are often referred to as light (check out John 1 or 1 John 1 if you’re interested). People who belong to Jesus are people who live like He did too, loving others, walking in what is right, and staying away from sin.

Ephesians 6 talks all about the “armor of God,” and in these verses, we see Paul name one of those specifically (the helmet of salvation) and name the breastplate as love (in Ephesians, it is righteousness instead). What Paul is trying to say is that the love we receive from Christ, as well as the knowledge and faith of the salvation He offers us, are things we can wear as we go into battle against the spiritual forces the world throws at us! Lastly, Paul reminds the Thessalonians to build one another up, which is super similar to Ephesians 4:29! Paul says that real encouragement is the kind that lifts one another up rather than tearing them down. Let’s work hard to hold onto these reminders… they aren’t just for the Thessalonians or the Ephesians, but for us too!

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and remembered a different place where the same message pops up? Why do you think God puts the same messages in different places of the Bible?

2. Which of these repeated messages hits you most? How can you work on living in the light, wearing spiritual armor, or encouraging others this week?

TRY THIS:

Write down one word from the passage above that sticks out to you on your hand, a sticky note you will see a bunch, or maybe in a notebook you use! Every time you see the word, make it a reminder for you to live the way God calls us to. 

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