The Day of the Lord is when Jesus returns. Is He going to sneak in like a thief in the night? Will we be surprised?

No!

Paul says, “You are not in darkness for that day to surprise you like a thief.”

The Lord is not coming like a thief in the night to secretly rapture away believers. That’s something of the movies, not reality.

It will surprise non-believers because they will think they are living in peace and security.

We won’t be “asleep” like them. We will keep awake. You sleep in the night, but we are children of the Light.

We will be in the right place when the Lord comes because we are always wearing our helmet of the hope of salvation and the breastplate of faith and love.

We know that God has chosen salvation for His children! Wrath is never for God’s children. That is not our destiny.

And besides, we have no fear of death. Whether alive or dead, we’re with Jesus. Hooray!

Paul closes his letter to the Christians in Thessalonica with some exhortations, strong encouragements.

They are told to respect those laboring on their behalf. Honor your pastor, your Bible teachers, those serving you by serving the Lord. “Esteem them in love.” Don’t put them on a pedestal, but honor their love of God and their love of others in sacrificial service.

Christians are to be at peace with one another. We are always to go after unity and harmony among believers, always being patient with one another and seeking to do good to one another.

Sometimes love means giving the hard word to someone, like those being idle and lazy. But it also means to encourage those needing it.

We are told God’s will again. It’s to rejoice always, to pray always, to give thanks always.

We’re to allow the Holy Spirit to work through people without hindrance, but in truth and in order.

I will pray for you like Paul. May the God of peace Himself make you wholly His and completely blameless.