ESOCS Devotional 27 November 2023 – Be Prepared
MEMORY VERSE: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night”. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 KJV
TEXT:1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11 (KJV)
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The motto of the Boys’ Scout movement is “Be prepared”. So, a Boys Scout member could be called at any time and drafted to somewhere to calm a rowdy situation. He goes without any excuse because he is already prepared. In the same way, every Christian is supposed to be prepared for the coming of Christ.
Efforts to determine the date of Christ’s return are foolish. From our text, no one knows, believers will even be surprised. Apostle Paul warned the Thessalonians that the Lord will return suddenly and unexpectedly, so they should be ready.
It is good that we don’t know when He will return, if we know, we might be tempted to be lazy in our work for Him. Worse yet, we might plan to keep living in sin and turn to God right at the end.
We are children of God. We should be ready at all times. We should not be misled by anyone who claims to know when Christ will return. We should live each day prepared to welcome Him.
Suppose He returns now, how would He find you living? Are you ready to meet Him? His judgment comes as a thief upon those who are not prepared for His coming. It is at hand.
FURTHER READING: Matthew 24, 25:1-13; 2 Peter 3:10-14
ESOCS Devotional 27 November 2023
