20 Jan February 5th Daily Devotion

 A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

 AWAKE

1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

Are you asleep or awake?  Today’s devotional verses call out to you, a Christian to be awake and not asleep.  The often-asked Lutheran question what does this mean must be brought to bear regarding verse six’s exhortation, “. . . let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”

Jesus used this same language as recorded in Matthew 25:13, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” The Greek here means to be alert and awake.  It is used in the context of yesterday’s devotion that called for spiritual alertness because you do not know when the Last Day will come.  The Last Day may be your personal last day on earth.  It can also be the Parousia when Christ shall return to judge the living and the dead.  Either way, spiritual preparedness and alertness is needed lest you be “dozing” off and an easy target for Satan and his evil allies.

Satan uses the temptations of the sinful world to lure you into sin and rebellion against God.  This is the reason for spiritual alertness.  Spiritual alertness requires looking before your leap.  This means prayerfully ask God to help you discern the spiritual implications of the choices that are before you.  What looks innocent may not be innocent at all.  What the world tries to entice you to do may look pleasurable and enjoyable while in fact participating in its pleasures can lead you into “misbelief, despair and other great  and shameful acts.” (Martin Luther)

How then is spiritual alertness and being spiritually awake done?  The Bible’s answer is God’s word is a “lamp unto your feet and a light for your path.” (Psalm 119:105)  Daily remembering and returning to the power of your baptism “drowns the Old Adam and brings forth the New Man” (Jesus Christ) through whom you overcome all temptations.  Through regular and frequent reception of the Lord’s Supper you receive the forgiveness of sins.  Read Ephesians, chapter six, verses 10 and following to see all that God provides you for you to use in your daily battle with Satan, the world, and your sinful flesh.

Prayer:  Grant me dear Father in heaven a faith that will not shrink though pressed by many a foe. . .  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Oh, for a faith that will not shrink,
Though pressed by every foe,
That will not tremble on the brink
Of any earthly woe!

That will not murmur nor complain
Beneath the chast’ning rod,
But, in the hour of grief or pain,
Will lean upon its God.

A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage without;
That when in danger knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt.

Lord, give me such a faith as this,
And then, whate’er may come,
I’ll taste, e’en here, the hallowed bliss
Of an eternal home.

(William Brathurst,1831  Public Domain)