Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 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. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 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. 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. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
I like nighttime. I like the coolness, the stars and the moon, even the shadows.
But I don’t like the danger that comes with it. Because at night, some people feel free to do bad things. They get drunk or high and do things they’d never do in the light of day: family violence, theft, even rape or murder. The darkness covers everything, so the hidden parts of people’s hearts tend to come out.
Paul calls us “children of the day,” because our lives are the same regardless of day or night. And that’s not because of our own goodness, but rather because Jesus our Lord came into this world to save us and to make our hearts like His own, with the Holy Spirit changing us into His image. Therefore we are not afraid to have the sun shine on what we do, because “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.”
Now that Jesus has risen from the dead, He has given us His own everlasting life that starts right now—life that overflows in actions of love and kindness to the people around us. We are God’s children, and we imitate our Father. Yes, we still sin—but when we fall, we find help and forgiveness in our dear Lord Jesus Christ. And when the Day of the Lord dawns and everything is exposed and made known, we will not need to fear—for Jesus has already washed us and covered us in Himself (see Romans 13:14). We are dressed for the daytime, and will not need to be ashamed.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, when I think about Your coming, I am glad but also nervous. Help me to trust in You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions: