1 Thessalonians 5

What a year it has been!  And today is the last day of the year 2010 and we are on our final chapter of our 2010 Bible Reading plan.  Some of us have read every chapter…  Some have missed a few… But the important thing is that we have been keeping the Word of God close to our hearts throughout the year.

And I am sure we all have gained in one way or another if we have been reading the Bible regularly.  Let us keep it up!

Do you remember what the theme for our Bible is?  It is “What is Christianity?” and this last chapter we are reading today seems to be a fitting conclusion to what we have read this whole year.  Let’s read it for the last time this year 🙂

Bible Passage:  1 Thessalonians 5

So…. What is Christianity?

Future Hope of Christians

Yesterday, we read about the coming of our Lord again.  Isn’t this exciting?

Paul continues the train of thought today and from verses 1 to 11, he made several points:

1. No one knows when the “day of the Lord” will come
2. Unbelievers would be totally surprised by the return of Christ as it is totally unexpected
3. Believers should be alert and self controlled, knowing that because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are assured of salvation… provided we remain in the light.
4. Christ’s second coming will mean life togther with Him forever
5. Christians are to stay alert and discplined, encouraging and building each other up in faith, hope and love.

“The day of the Lord.”  ~  Do we long for this day?  Do we even think of this day and are prepared for it?  Or are we like the many people in the world, living for the moment, and enjoying the world and being in the world?  Do we engage in activities that are more of the dark than light?

As we come to the end of the year, let us take stock of what kind of a Christian we are.  Do we look forward to the future hope of Christians or this is something we have quite forgotten this year.

Our Collective Christian Responsibility

From verses 12 to 22, Paul was writing to the community of believers in Thessalonica but the lessons are very much for the individual as well.

What are some of our responsibilities as Christians in the household of God?

Responsibility Towards our Leaders

This is found in verses 12 – 13.

Look around you.  Do you know who are those who work hard among you in church?  Have you ever wondered how the church compound is kept clean, the aircon is switched on before the service, the doors locked after, the speaker schedules are prepared, the Holy Communion is prepared etc…

What does Paul want us to do?

Show respect!  Hold them in the highest regard in love! Live in peace with each other!

I do not think I need to elaborate more 🙂

Responsibility Towards our Fellow Members

Paul, in verses 14 to 15, says things that we often find it hard to do.

We do not want to be seen as busy bodies.  We are afraid that our good intentions may be mis-interpreted.  We are worried that we may be scolded.

But read through the verse carefully and I am sure a few of our fellow members come to mind.  Maybe we are the ones that being spoken of…. and if someone comes up to you in love… remember that he or she is just following the instructions of Paul 🙂

Responsibility Towards God

We often read verses 16 to 18 when we need encouragements in our prayers and to know what to pray for.

I read something yesterday that said this…

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.”

When I read that I was a little ashamed.  I do not think I thank God enough for what He has done in my life.  But in giving thanks, I will learn to also rejoice continously… in all circumstances.  And that, as Paul said, is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.

Responsibility Towards the Holy Spirit

God has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us.  Even though the Holy Spirit is our Counsellor, Our Helper and Our Comforter… and is a HOLY Spirit… very often we live our lives neglecting this fact.

Read verses 19-22 and tell yourself what is your responsibility with regards to the Holy Spirit.

Sanctification – A Gift and a Goal

I would like to offer verse 23 as a concluding verse for our year’s reading and give us this reminder and perhaps a resolution for next year….

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul reminds us that sanctification (the process of growing in holiness) is both a gift and a goal.

It’s a gift of grace.  When we believed, repented and was baptised, we pass over from death to life and we are a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17).  And now, we are able to stand blameless before God.

But it is also very much a goal (1 Thess 3:13).  It is a goal for us to live out holy lives as we go through our life’s journey.  It is very much something we need to constantly grow to become.

Being called “holy, holy” is something to aim for and not shunned.

For to be brought back to the Heavenly Home and be with Jesus forever… that’s our final goal isn’t it?

May the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you”.  (1 Thess 5:28)