1 Thessalonians 5, The Message
1-3 I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

4-8 But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

9-11 God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

What do we learn? What gives us hope and encouragement?
–NO ONE is left out, no one left behind.
–Jesus death triggered life for us.
–Live forward…Live Jesus!
–Jesus IS coming back for us…

Dear Heavenly Father, We can be so discouraged by the feelings and actions of others toward us, and then You remind us of Your love, Your actions of love toward us and we are encouraged, Our souls are revived once more. Living with You saves us from the inside out. Thank you for saving us, helping us to be better than yesterday. Continue Your transformation work within us until we are are all You intended for us to be and do. In Jesus Name, Amen I believe.