There are parts of the Bible that are wonderfully comforting.
And then there are passages that essentially say:
Jesus is coming back. Pay attention to how you’re living.
First Thessalonians 5 manages to do both.
Paul has been teaching believers about the return of Christ and the coming Day of the Lord. He doesn’t give them a date to circle on the calendar. In fact, he tells them it will come unexpectedly, “like a thief in the night.”
Then he tells Christians how they should live while they wait.
Stay awake.
Be sober.
Put on faith and love.
Hold onto the hope of salvation.
Why?
Because followers of Jesus aren’t waiting for God’s wrath.
We’re waiting for Jesus.
And right in the middle of Paul’s warning comes this beautiful assurance:
“God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The future is serious.
Judgment is real.
But so is salvation.
And Jesus is the reason we can face what’s coming with hope instead of fear.
Today’s Saving Grace of God
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 (ESV)
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”
Setting the Scene
Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians to a young church that had already experienced suffering because of its faith.
These believers also had questions about Christ’s return. Some of their fellow Christians had died, and they were worried about what would happen to them when Jesus came back.
Near the end of chapter 4, Paul reassures them that believers who have died will not somehow miss Christ’s return.
Then chapter 5 turns toward the Day of the Lord.
Paul says it will come unexpectedly.
And he doesn’t sugarcoat what that means.
There will be judgment.
But Paul tells these believers that they are not people of darkness. They are “children of light, children of the day.”
Because of that, they aren’t supposed to live carelessly while waiting for Jesus.
“Let us keep awake and be sober.”
Paul tells them to put on the breastplate of faith and love and, as a helmet, “the hope of salvation.”
Then comes our passage.
God has not destined His people for wrath, but for salvation through Jesus Christ.
Why?
Because Jesus died for us.
And whether believers are still alive when He returns or have already died, Paul’s promise remains:
We will live with Him.
Reflection
I’ll admit that I like the salvation part of this passage considerably more than the judgment part.
I imagine most of us do.
Give me:
Jesus died for me.
I will live with Him.
Salvation is mine through Christ.
Amen, amen, amen.
But Paul doesn’t give us permission to rip those beautiful promises out of the warning surrounding them.
The Day of the Lord is coming.
There will be judgment.
And Paul says that truth should affect how we live.
That’s where Christianity gets uncomfortable sometimes.
Jesus didn’t save me so I could check eternity secured off my list and then wander through the rest of my life doing whatever I please.
Grace is free.
Following Jesus costs something.
It means there are things I need to put down.
There are places I shouldn’t go.
There are attitudes I need God to correct.
There are times when I’d rather follow my own desires and the Holy Spirit makes it painfully obvious that I know better.
And occasionally I behave like that toddler who has been told repeatedly not to touch something while maintaining direct eye contact and reaching for it anyway.
Apparently spiritual maturity can be humbling. 😂
But Paul isn’t telling believers to live obediently because they should spend every day terrified that God might suddenly change His mind about them.
Look at what he gives them:
the hope of salvation.
That’s very different from fear.
We know where our salvation comes from.
Not our perfect behavior.
Not our impressive spiritual performance.
Jesus Christ, who died for us.
That assurance doesn’t make obedience unnecessary.
It gives us a reason for it.
I belong to Jesus.
So how I live matters.
And there’s another part of this passage I find incredibly beautiful.
Paul says Jesus died for us so that:
“whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”
Alive when Jesus returns?
With Him.
Already gone from this earth?
With Him.
That’s the destination.
Not simply escaping wrath.
Not merely getting into heaven.
Living with Jesus.
Suddenly the return of Christ doesn’t sound like something God’s children need to dread.
It’s something we’re preparing for.
Someone we’re waiting for.
And until He comes, Paul essentially tells us:
Stay awake.
Live like you belong to the Light.
Short Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die for me so that I can live with You forever.
Your Word reminds me that the return of Christ is not simply a comforting promise but also a reason to examine how I’m living today. Forgive me for the times I treat grace as permission to hold onto things You are clearly asking me to surrender.
Wake me up when I become spiritually careless.
Correct me when I know better and choose my own way anyway.
Help me live as a child of the Light—not because I’m afraid You will stop loving me, but because I belong to You and I want my life to reflect that truth.
And when thoughts of the future make me afraid, remind me where my hope rests.
Jesus died for me.
My salvation comes through Him.
And one day, whether I am here when He returns or already home with You, I will live with Him.
What a glorious promise.
In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
Reflection Question
If I truly believe Jesus is returning, is there anything about the way I’m living today that I already know He is asking me to change?
Closing Encouragement
Jesus is coming again.
Scripture doesn’t tell us that so we’ll spend our lives terrified.
And it certainly doesn’t tell us so we’ll spend our lives pretending it doesn’t matter.
It tells us to be ready.
Live awake.
Walk in the Light.
Hold onto faith and love.
And wear the hope of salvation like a helmet when fear tries to convince you that the future is something to dread.
Because for those who belong to Christ, the final promise is breathtakingly simple:
We will live with Him.
And until that day comes, may we live like people who are waiting for Someone we cannot wait to see.
Helpful Daily Resources
- Read the full chapter on Bible.com ~ 1 Thessalonians 5
- Enjoy Bible.com ~ Verse of the Day
- Try Bible.com ~ Bible Recap: Read the Bible in a Year Plan