April 22, 2020
Brothers and Sisters,
The past couple of days in our morning devotions, I have been dealing with the subject of “Faith”. The Bible has much to say on this subject. We have been looking at how important that it is for us to “Walk by faith and not by sight”. The Bible says that it is our faith that is the victory that overcometh the world. (1 John 5:4)… and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
The Apostle Paul in writing to the church of Thessalonica concerning the “Day of the Lord” instructs them in chapter 5, verses 1-2, “But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night”.
If you knew that a thief was coming to break into your home tonight and do harm to you and your family, what would you do? Would you go through your normal routine? Would you put your family to bed and then pillow your head on your own bed tonight and drift off to sleep? Or, would you stand guard over your home and family and be ready when the thief arrived?
In verse 6 of that same text, Paul writes, “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober”. And then he goes on to say in verse 8, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation”.
Yesterday we talked about the “shield of faith”. Here in 1 Thessalonians the Word of God instructs us to “put on the breastplate of faith”. In warfare, a breastplate is a piece of armor that is worn to cover the chest and is used to protect the vital organs of the soldier. One of the most vital organs is the heart. I’m sure you’ve heard it said before that someone has given their heart to the Lord. That is how we give our testimony many times by saying that Jesus, “came into my heart”, “changed my heart”, “gave me a new heart”, “took out the old heart of stone and put in a new heart of flesh”, etc. Are you getting the picture? By putting on the breastplate of faith, we will be prepared to stand guard over our family and be prepared for the “Day of the Lord”.
I’m sure we all have those in our family that are not prepared for the “Day of the Lord”. The remedy is found in verses 9-11, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do”.
It is God’s desire for all of our loved ones to be saved and ready when the Lord returns (The Day of the Lord). Second Peter chapter 3 and verse 9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. So, let’s use this time when God has slowed our lives down to pray for our lost family members and take every opportunity to point them to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
By Grace through Faith,
Bro. Rick
