1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 -Since Christians are children of the day (righteousness) and not of the night (wickedness), they are to remain sober and awake. To be ready and to be equipped to do battle against evil, they are to be equipped with faith, hope, and love. Paul comforts and assures them that God has not destined them to wrath, but to salvation so that whether they live or die, they might be with the Lord.
Paul assures his readers the children of light will not be surprised when the day of the Lord suddenly comes. The Christians of the first century were concerned about the exact date of Jesus’ return. Does this not sound familiar? There are many who spend an inordinate amount of time speculating when the Lord will return. Paul reminded them that no exact day could be determined, for Jesus will come suddenly and unexpectedly as a thief comes in the night. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.- Matthew 24:36 Thus the Christian should pray, “Even so quickly come, Lord Jesus, quickly come.”
Today is Veterans Day, a day dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I. In 1918 on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the war officially came to a close. On this day we honor all those who have served our nation’s armed forces but we also pray that solutions to conflict may flourish; that peace in this world may come. Of course, there will be conflict as we are living in a broken world outside of Eden. Still we ask that peace may reign. Thus we look to that day when Christ will come bringing peace to the earth as even He is the prince of peace.
A prayer for Peace: Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord. [1]
[1] Collect for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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