CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE STUDY ON YOUTUBE
1 Thessalonians 5:6-11
In 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11 the Apostle Paul continues his teaching on the difference of living in the darkness or living in the light. He explains that the darkness is a cover for the things that are done in the sinful nature and states in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-7 (NKJV), “6Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.”
Paul then gives guidance for the way in which we should live as Christians as he instructs in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, “8But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” Paul has given us examples of living in sin (darkness/night) and living in righteousness (light/day). He then gives us reasoning for living in the light as he declares in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, “. 9For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” Paul then closes this section of teaching with a comment that he has already instructed in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 as this implies the necessity and importance of the instruction. He reiterates, “11Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11; 4:18).
This is an example of living in darkness or living in the light.
Jesus declares in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” In John 12:46 Jesus declares, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” And in John 3:19-21 Jesus states, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Jesus also provides freedom from the sinful nature that attacks us in this world. He declares in John 8:34-36, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
We all have hope in Christ Jesus. The Apostle John declares in John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” God may be calling you to walk in the light and begin a new life out of darkness. Say yes to Jesus and proclaim Him your Savior today. . . He will give you the light of life now and for eternity.
Dear LORD,
We have all walked in darkness for at least some time, but You have led us to the light of the world that is found only in Christ Jesus and have given us new life. I pray today for those who You are calling out of the darkness, that You would strengthen them through Your Holy Spirit and lead them to proclaiming Jesus Lord and Savior of their life. In Jesus name I pray, amen.