Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Thessalonians 5 and Psalm 150

“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night … ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.“

Chapter 4 closed with a reminder that the Lord Jesus will return from heaven to gather His Family on earth to Himself and to reunite them with those who have gone ahead of them through death (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Now Paul reminds them not to waste time and energy on trying to anticipate when this will happen, but instead to use all their time and energy to ensure that they are ready when it does happen.

Remember, Jesus taught the same thing in Matthew 24. He said that only the Father knows the exact day and time of His return (24:36), and then He called us to readiness, saying:  “⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Both in Matthew 24 and here in 1 Thess. 5, it’s clear that this readiness is not a matter of losing touch with the world around us because we’re gazing heavenward waiting. Rather, it is a matter of living with steadfast faith in Jesus and practical love for others (v.8). It’s also not a matter of living in fear of Jesus’ return, “⁹ (f)or God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” We do not fear the coming of Jesus, we hope for it (v.8) – i.e. we anticipate it with joy, because then we will finally receive the fulness and completion of the saving work of Jesus.

Verses 12-25 should not really be separated from v.1-11 by a heading. These headings (throughout the Bible) were all added by the editors of the various English translations, and not by the original authors. Verse 12-25 are a continuation of the exhortation to be ready for Jesus’ return. They are the very practical ways we can live in steadfast hope and practical love. So let’s reflect on them today as part of our “life application”.

Life application: Prepare yourself for the Lord’s return by reading slowly through v.12-25 and allow the Holy Spirit to highlight one of the practical instructions. Meditate on that instruction and keep it at the back of your mind all day, looking for as many opportunities as possible to obey it.

P.S. CONGRATULATIONS! You have completed the Book of Psalms! We’ll start again on Monday.