The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 5:8-13, “…let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.”

Paul is coming to the end of his first letter to the Thessalonians, written about A.D. 52. He will write yet another to them about a year later. This first letter deals primarily with the LORD coming for His people. The second letter will deal with the LORD coming with His people.

Immorality was rampant in the days of this letter, much like it is today. So, Paul admonishes them to be sober, that is, to maintain a well balanced state of mind. Sobriety in Scripture always advocates the elimination of intoxicating beverages. We all need to be reminded of Solomon’s admonition: “Wine is a mocker; strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise” (Prov. 20:1).

Paul’s emphasis of the “breastplate” should remind us of the Old Testament priests (Ex. 25:7). Soldiers, of course, wore breastplate for defense; but priests wore them as an indication of their office before the LORD. They spoke of trust and reliance upon the LORD, the same as they do for us as Christians.

We are to love one another, showing them affection and esteem, and all that is a high level of interest in the well-being of others.

Moreover, we are to encourage and strengthen one another in the things of the LORD. At the same time, we are to respect those who are in authority over us. None of us are all that we ought to be, and esteeming those who are our authorities is moving in the right spiritual direction. Failure to adhere to the wise counsel of the LORD is to reckon ourselves as our own authority.

Finally, we are to “live in peace with one another.” Do we do that? Well, some-times… No, we are to be at peace with all believers all the time. This is the will of God for us. Let’s pay attention to the One who is coming for us and will one day judge us for all our ways.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”