September 13 2026

September 13 Sunday

1 Thessalonians 5:7-11

Awake, Armed, and Encouraging

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat. In the previous verses of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul reminded us that believers are “sons of light and sons of the day.” Therefore, he said we should not be spiritually asleep but should watch and be sober. Today Paul continues that thought. Verse 7 says: “For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.” Paul is drawing a spiritual contrast. Night is the natural setting for sleep and drunkenness. But believers belong to the day. Therefore verse 8 says: “But let us who are of the day be sober.”

Then Paul uses a picture that he often used in his letters—that of a soldier preparing for battle. He says we should put on: “The breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” Those three familiar words appear again: Faith. Love. Hope. We saw them in the very first chapter of this letter: A work of faith. A labor of love. And a patience of hope. Now Paul pictures faith and love as a breastplate protecting the heart, and hope as a helmet protecting the mind. The Christian life is a battlefield. We have an enemy. Satan attacks our faith. He wants us to doubt God's goodness. He attacks our love. He wants bitterness, anger, and division to enter our hearts. And he attacks our hope. He wants us to become discouraged and believe that our circumstances will never change. So Paul says: Protect your heart with faith and love. Protect your mind with hope. And then he reminds us what our hope is based upon.

Verse 9 says: “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” What an encouraging promise. God's purpose for those who belong to Christ is not wrath but salvation. Why? Because Jesus took the judgment for our sins upon Himself at the cross. Verse 10 says that Jesus: “Died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” There is the heart of the gospel: Christ died for us. Jesus did not die merely as a martyr or a great example. He died for us. He took our place. Isaiah said: “The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Peter said: “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” Paul said: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” Our salvation rests entirely upon what Jesus accomplished for us.

And notice again Paul's wonderful promise: “We should live together with Him.” Whether we are alive when Jesus comes or whether our body has been laid in the grave, our destiny is the same: We will live with Jesus. That is Christian hope. Then Paul says in verse 11: “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” This sounds very similar to the final verse of chapter 4: “Comfort one another with these words.” Christian truth should produce Christian encouragement. Paul doesn't want prophecy to make us argumentative. He wants it to make us encouraging. The word “edify” means to build up. Every day we are either building people up or tearing them down. Our words can encourage someone. Or they can discourage someone. Our attitude can strengthen someone. Or it can weaken someone.

Paul says: “Build one another up.” Maybe there is someone God has placed on your heart today. A friend who is struggling. A family member who is discouraged. Someone at church carrying a burden. Maybe God wants you to call them. Send them a message. Pray with them. Remind them that God is faithful. Sometimes a few words of encouragement can change someone's entire day. And remember what Paul says our encouragement is based upon: Jesus died for us. We belong to Him. We are not appointed to wrath. Our salvation is secure in Christ. And one day we will live together with Him. So today: Stay awake spiritually. Put on faith, love, and hope. And then help somebody else keep standing too.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus died for us and that our hope of salvation rests in Him. Help us to put on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation. Guard our hearts from doubt and bitterness, and guard our minds from discouragement. Lord, show us someone today whom we can encourage and build up. May our words bring hope, strength, and comfort to those around us as we look forward to living forever with Jesus. In His name, we pray. Amen.

God bless, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!