Devotional: 1 Thessalonians 5: 8-10
1 Thessalonians 5: 8-10 AMP
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].
Our lives were purposed to magnify the Lord God of hosts. We live for the Lord’s benefit and pleasure. Let us revel in this; for God’s desires are holy. We in Christ Jesus are gifted with the chance to live out our full purpose per God’s divine design. And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). And it became so that He created male and female (Genesis 1:27). As joyful parents receive pleasure from watching their offspring wax great in earthly successes, the Lord is pleased in watching us wax great in the things of Him. Thus, let us remain steadfast, gripping the breastplate of faith and love as we draw confidence in Christ. Remembering daily that God designed us to be with Him. To rest in His glory and receive the gifts of His Spirit set to aid us in remaining sober while we mature in Christ and await Christ’s return. God’s goodness fortifies us to strive for deeper levels of Him. We must denounce the negativity inside and around us to appropriately perceive our worth. We must also accept the value of Christ in us and find reassurance in His sufficiency. We matter to God. Let us present our bodies as a living sacrifice and take on the mind and heart of Christ. So that we honor and love God with every word, heart meditation, and thought.
