What occupies your thoughts each day? Are you concerned about the future, your job, or preoccupied with the state of our country? Does fear try to fill your thoughts with “what ifs?” or “when will?” How about facing death; does it linger in your mind to keep you unsettled and not enjoying the gift of each day? Do you have expectations to know the timeline of the eternal plans of God? I hear many different perspectives of life, faith, present distressing situations, as well as concerns about what the future may hold. If you become preoccupied over happenings in this temporal realm that are trying to destroy your peace of mind—a gift from Christ—you have misplaced your HOPE.
If we allow our thoughts to be manipulated by negativity, we will certainly struggle with each one of these questions. For this reason, the Apostle Paul instructs believers to take captive every thought that tries to take dominion over the true knowledge of God’s love; we must place our faith in Christ’s promise to never leave us (2 Cor 10:5). Nothing going on in our lives or in this world is a surprise to the Lord. Therefore, we do not need to live in fear and worry; we know God through relationship, have chosen to put our hope [confident trust] in His care, ask for what we need to fulfill his will, and believe he will always spiritually prepare us for whatever we face in the future.
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul has to address the concerns of the early church. Like unbelievers, these believers have allowed themselves to become worried about many things; especially when Christ will return. Paul cannot tell God’s people when Christ will return for them, but he clings to the teachings of Jesus so people can be prepared for whenever the Lord does return.
HOPE:
- Is the assurance of what is Divinely Guaranteed for Children of the Light
- Prompts and works to lead us into an Attitude of Godly Expectation
- Encourages an Eternal Viewpoint
- Rests on Christ’s Promises
- Is Built upon FAITH—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses
- Always Perseveres and Endures Suffering
- Hope never bows to despair or negativity; hope bows only to Christ—the Truth.
- The world is like a puzzle telling the story of HOPE and Jesus makes all the pieces fit together and helps us understand where we are and why we need him.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 AMP The Day of the Lord
1 Now as to the times [wait] and dates, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord]. 4 But you, believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise]. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we [believers] belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope and confident assurance of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died [willingly] for us, so that whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead) [at Christ’s appearing], we will live together with Him [sharing eternal life]. 11 Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us take every wrong and anxious thought captive, so we can continue to live by faith with abundant hope! Jesus, you died to give us the gift of hope, so we must place our confident trust in your promises. While the world may choose to live in negativity, keep your children of Light focused on your goodness and the grace we can pray for and receive. Our expectations are in your love, Word, and your promise to fulfill your divine purpose for creation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.