1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
(COLOSSIANS 1:13)
In C. S. Lewis' The Silver Chair, the Earthmen lived in the darkness of the Deep Realm without hope of a new life in the Overworld. Until the evil power was destroyed, for them there were no sun, stars, or Overworld, although these did exist. The queen of the Deep Realm wanted her subjects to think that what they experienced was all there was.
Lewis reveals the temptation of any human heart - one regenerated in Jesus or not - to believe that our surface experiences are all that matter. Earthmen that we are, we often are busy, living daily with no expectation of anything more than this natural realm offers. And as there was for Lewis' characters, there is an intense battle for us to be delivered from the enemy's lies and to realize there is more than our physical senses reveal.
Jesus gave His life to free us from a dark, hopeless place. He said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Will you walk in His light this New Year?
INSIGHT
THE WHOLE WORLD
WAS LOST IN THE
DARKNESS OF SIN,
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
IS JESUS!
(PHILIP P. BLISS, 1838-1876)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Genesis 18-19
Psalm 9
Matthew 14-15
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
New International Version (NIV)
The Day of the Lord
5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 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. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
STRUGGLING FOR A HUSBAND'S LOVE
with Greg Nance
Do you feel like you have to earn the love of your spouse? Maybe you feel like you have to earn God's love. In Genesis, Leah struggled for Jacob's love, but thankfully the love of the Lord is free.
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