Devotion for Today: Devotion for Today "Thief in the Night" I Thess. 5:1-4

Devotion for Today  "Thief in the Night"  I Thess. 5:1-4

One of our church members was out of town enjoying a nice vacation

over the spring holidays.  When they returned, however, they found that

their home had been burglarized.  These people are very cautious and

never negligent about their personal security, yet they discovered

that the back doorway had been pried open.  While nothing expensive

was taken, some very precious family keepsakes were stolen that could

not be replaced. On commenting about the break-in one of the victims

said, "If they were intent on stealing, I wished they had stolen

the color television set- at least we could haved replace that."

Burglary has happened to many of us, and it is not a nice thing to

happen to anyone.  Apart from the grief and loss over some material

belongings you also feel a sense of violation that someone invaded your

private space and took something from you, leaving you very angry and

frustrated because in many cases the perpetrator is either never

discovered or not brought to justice.  You feel grief in that a part

of your trust in your fellow man has also died.  The sense of bewilder-

ment in that someone came along, suddenly- while you were not looking-

and who can be looking every single second of the day?

As we examine our devotional passage in I Thessalonians 5:1-4, we

discover that Jesus is going to return.  What will be the manner of

that return?  "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you

have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know

perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes

upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.  And they shall not

escape.  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day

should overtake you as a thief."

The Apostle Paul tells us that as believers in Jesus Christ we need

to constantly remind ourselves, and others, that there is no exact

time when Christ will return, only that when He does return, it will

be unexpected.  Its not as though He has never warned us or told us,

but that most people will be living oblivious to this advent as they

were when He came to us the first time.  Even if the exact hour and

day were given, many would not interpret the urgency of the season

until it is too late.  So we are told to live as though in the very

next moment Jesus may return.  But we are not trying to prevent His

coming.  Indeed we will live so that we will be the first to welcome

Him when He does return.  Have a blessed day!

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com

jcrussell@liberty.edu

Devotion for Today