1 Thess 5:1-11

SCRIPTURE

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

COMMENT

Focus. It seems to be the key to success in a lot of situations. Athletes need to stay focused. As do all competitors. I recall playing chess in Junior High. Couldn't win a game. Then I played the sponsor of the club. I did not want to lose. I was focused, and achieved my goal. He could not believe it. That woke me up and suddenly I started playing much better. 

There is a lot out there to distract us. Satan knows this and uses it to accomplish his purposes. Sometimes those distractions are good times, to lull us into complacency. Other times there are trials, to draw our focus away. But we belong to the day. We have our sobriety. God has not destined us for (eternal) wrath, but salvation through Jesus. That is the gospel. Not by our strength, but by His might.