There are 3 qualities that define a Christian. These 3 qualities are what we should be seeing in other believers and demonstrating in our own life. I will embolden them in this next verse.
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5 v 8)
Paul using the analogy of a soldier which he did in his letter to the Ephesians (with different symbols) he wants them staying alert, awake and sober of mind and behaviour.
Here are the 3 things we must take care of whilst we wait:-
- A breastplate (‘guarding my heart above all things’) of faith. It speaks of my walk with God. My prayer life. My worship life. My awareness of His Spirit in my life. My closeness to Jesus. My copying of Jesus. My language. My behavioural responses. My understanding of where I am at and who I have become. I clothe myself with Christ. I am not unaware of the devils schemes. Voices of accusation penetrate my ears and mind and sometimes I see them from the unlikeliest of places. But I choose not to be clothed by accusation but by my walk with God, my faith.
- A breastplate of love. The word is Agape. The pinnacle and the foundation of everything. Without it nothing makes sense. This is not a feeling towards the person you are loving but it is a strong commitment that will not let go until that person understands, receives and prospers from the purpose of your love. It is the highest form, of sacrificial commitment love. The cross is how God demonstrated Agape to the world. It is the agape that God has for us and the expectation that we should have for each other. We love each other how God loves us. It isn’t easy. People can be difficult. However agape isn’t based on what we get back in return. We show kindness, speak kindness, respond kindly, we agape every person we come into contact with. Why? Because He first showed agape to us and it flows out of our faith in Him.
- A helmet of hope of salvation. It is the area that becomes the playground for so many negative thoughts. When people come and say you are not what you should be remind yourself where you now stand. When the voices of doubt say you need to perform and prove yourself in order to be accepted by God then it is a complete lie. Do not listen to that lie. It is a falsehood. Ignore it. You are complete in Him; you are alive in Him; you are free and not afraid; you are a child of God and belong to Him; you are without blame within His love; you have peace with God and the peace of God in your mind; you have the Spirit of God hovering over your life and dwelling in you; you have the Spirits wisdom and understanding for every situation you face; you have the powerful strengthening enabling to be and do whatever needs to happen; you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you; you are chosen by God for this moment; you have everything you need for this life because you have Him; you are a temple of the Holy Spirit; cleansed, forgiven and set aside for a holy life; you are saved by the grace of God. You have hope!
Missions Paul 
Paul, I appreciate the guidance you give in these short daily devotions. I know I need different types of communication at various points as guides in my life, and you provide one, thank you. I am reminded of Sugar Ray Lenard’s corner/manager who had to tell him, ‘you must punch’, I think it was Angelo Dundee. It’s amazing that a world champion had to be told this. Short, pithy statements are the type my Yorkshire dad (Halifax) favoured, and he could often sort out the most intractable problems with three words. Facing the difficulty of deciding whether to prioritise working on our house (With my Wife at the time), or building up the business (carpentry and joinery) my dad said, ‘Fields first’, reducing his normal three words to two for extra poignancy and punch! Now trying to sort out where I should put my efforts, if I connect Jesus’, ‘the fields are white…’ and ‘fields first’, I have a ready answer to my predicament. Another Paul said, (periphrastically) ‘you have few fathers…’ I thank God for those unwitting ‘fathers’ who write and speak into my life, encouraging me and enabling me to believe good things about myself, and to reject the worst thoughts I have about myself. In this you (I guess as an unwitting ‘father’) reflect the Word incarnate, who came to give abundant life, and to warn again the thief. Thank you for your timely, Spirit filled writing that enables others to keep running towards the prize. Thank you for pouring yourself out as an offering so that others can continue to appreciate the fragrance of Christ and be encouraged to keep going. Because of your encouragement and that of others (as another wordsmith said), ‘Yes I’m still running,‘ Rich
above all to listen to them.
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Richard thank you for taking the time to send such an encouraging and inspiring message.
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