DON’T FORGET
Today is Ash Wednesday
Come by for Ashes in the Chapel
7-9am
11am – 1pm
And then join us for Pancakes
starting at 5:30pm
and Worship at 6:45pm
Continuing our study
of 1st Thessalonians…
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 5:3-11
When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
Thought for the Day: The phrase, “There is peace and security,” was a propaganda slogan of the Roman imperial government (The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 11, p. 726). Paul used it here to set up a contrast between those who trust in God and those who trust in worldly powers. This continues on with the metaphorical polarities of light — darkness, sober — drunk, day — night. This was both a standard by which people could judge themselves and a blatant way of asking, “Are you with God?”
Midway through this passage, Paul shifted from clearly making the contrast to setting forth expectations for those who were believers (light, sober, day). These are people who consciously make the decision to put on faith and love, hope and salvation. These are all gifts from God, but a choice needs to be made as it is one thing to say we are in the light and another thing to behave as those who are in the light. Like always, Paul was less interested in what people might say and more interested in what they did.
At the end of the day, where is your faith rooted? Who do you trust with your peace and security? Is it with the things of this world or God? Not that any of us are perfect, but look at people’s bumperstickers? Listen to the language people use as compared to the way they distribute their money, use their resources or spend their time.
Prayer: There is so many things that cause anxiety, Lord, and it is easy to think we are capable of creating our own security. Work within us that we might continue to grow in our trust of your ways, a deep and abiding trust in you as our peace and security. Amen.
