1 Thessalonians 5 Devotional

Kept by the Faithful One

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”1 Thessalonians 5:24 (BSB)

The day of the Lord will come suddenly, like a thief at night, catching unaware those who talk of peace and security (5:2-3). But believers belong to the light and to the day, so they stay awake and sober, wearing faith and love as armor and the hope of salvation as a helmet (5:4-8). God appointed them not for wrath but for salvation through Jesus, who died so that, living or dead, they will live together with him (5:9-10).

A string of short commands follows: respect those who lead, live at peace, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone, rejoice, pray, give thanks in every situation (5:12-18). Taken alone, the list could feel heavy. But Paul closes by putting the weight where it belongs. He prays that the God of peace will make them holy through and through and keep them blameless until Jesus comes, and he assures them that God, who called them, is faithful to finish it (5:23-24). Holiness is God's promise before it is your effort.

To think about: Which of Paul's short commands feels hardest for you right now, and how does God's faithfulness change the way you approach it?