Daily Devo- I Thessalonians 5:1-11 "What Are You Wearing Today?"

 

 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (ESV)

Lord thank you for the reminder that You are coming back. This can either be frightening or comforting. I find great comfort in it, but also a sense of sadness for those who have chosen not to know You.
May a fire be fanned into flame in my heart today for those who do not know you. Please give me opportunities to point them to You.
 

I am dressing today with the breastplate of faith and love and putting on the helmet of the hope of salvation. 

Wearing these things I have protection and comfort and security no matter what comes my way. It also enables me to share the gospel with those who You put in my path today!
I'm dressed, and my heart is ready Lord.
Even so Lord Jesus come quickly!  

Today:
I will look for opportunities to share the gospel message with those God has put in my path.
I will encourage and build up other believers so they can do the same.

 

Chasing After Hearts,

Glenda Johnson

Daily Devo- Luke 20: 9-18 "Remember Who the Owner Is"

Luke 20:9-18

9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’?

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (ESV)

I see Jesus warning the people of that day about what they had done and what what they were about to do. Like the servants of the parable, the people had rejected the prophets of God over and over again. The prophets were killed, treated badly and their words from God not heeded.
 

Jesus knew His death was coming at the hands of the very same ones who had rejected the servants before Him. He let all know who were listening, killing the Son would not give you power. As the cornerstone, it would crush those who rejected Him.

I stand amazed, that Jesus could so calmly stand there and tell a story about His own impending death. Knowing that there were some standing right there in the crowd who would be the very ones shouting to crucify him shortly.

What kind of person does it take to be like that? What kind of God does it take to send His Son to be abused and killed by the very ones He created?

A loving, caring, all knowing God. One who knew how powerful sin was, how sin had so destroyed His creation, that He is willing to do whatever it takes to redeem the fruit of His vineyard.

However, there is a strong warning here.
Some today are under the mind set that if they reject Jesus, they can be the King of their own world. They become the owner of the vineyard. The Owner of ALL is coming back, and He has already sent His Son, and like the verse says, destruction will come to those who rejected the Son.
It is HIS vineyard. His world. He is the owner. If we choose to reject the Son, it will crush us, and there is nothing that can help us then.

Lord, I do not want to reject Your Son. I want to be found to be a good tenant of all You have entrusted me with in Your vineyard. May You find me a faithful servant when You return.

Today:
I will remember that I am just the tenant of all I have. God is the owner of my possessions, my family and my very life.
I will live with the thought that God is sending Jesus back, and it could be today, and I will be required to give an account of what I have done with what God has given me.

Chasing After Their Hearts,

Glenda Johnson