Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Putting on Faith and Love
Since today is Valentine's Day, I went searching in the Bible for a scripture about love and how it relates to the armor of God. I found it in 1st Thessalonians. Paul is writing to the Thessalonian church about their special problems and about the Second Coming of Jesus. He shows special concern for their spiritual welfare and warns them to live their lives in a way that is worthy of Christians in relation to the immoral society in which they lived.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 (NIV)
"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet."
Paul describes the breastplate here as a breastplate of faith and love. (In Ephesians 6, the armor of God includes the breastplate of righteousness.) He reminds us to be self-controlled and to live our lives differently from those around us. But in addition, he reminds us how important faith and love are as a breastplate to protect us. Sometimes I work so hard at being self controlled, saying "no" to candy and treats, that I forget to be loving. Cultivating love in my heart is so important, because it doesn't always come naturally to my selfish heart.
Why not let Valentine's Day be a reminder to really let love settle in and to throw out selfishness, not just for today, but for always.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 (NIV)
"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet."
Paul describes the breastplate here as a breastplate of faith and love. (In Ephesians 6, the armor of God includes the breastplate of righteousness.) He reminds us to be self-controlled and to live our lives differently from those around us. But in addition, he reminds us how important faith and love are as a breastplate to protect us. Sometimes I work so hard at being self controlled, saying "no" to candy and treats, that I forget to be loving. Cultivating love in my heart is so important, because it doesn't always come naturally to my selfish heart.
Why not let Valentine's Day be a reminder to really let love settle in and to throw out selfishness, not just for today, but for always.
# posted by Karen Whitson @ 7:29 PM 
