Lord, You are awesome. Please give me wisdom and understanding as I seek to honor You. Open my mind and heart to understand Your word.
Then
I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed
with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on
her head. She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and
the agony of giving birth. Revelation 12:1-2
Meditate.
How can we understand?
Travail.
A time of pain—like in agony of childbirth or in wartime. This woman is said to
represent the nation of Israel—in a war with other nations. Even today Israel
is surrounded by her enemies just waiting to pounce on her, creating a war.
When will that happen? Your guess is as good as mine.
Now concerning how and when all this
will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don't really need to write you. For
you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly,
like a thief in the night. When people are saying, "Everything is peaceful
and secure," then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant
woman's labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren't in the
dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised
when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the
light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your
guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 1
Thessalonians 5:1-6 
You are children of the light.
There it
is again…be on guard…stay alert. Jesus told His disciples and us
to be prepared. That’s it… be on guard…stay alert. How can we
understand just what this means? Pray. There is so much wisdom in
Thessalonians. Take Paul’s advice to that church to heart. Don’t ridicule prophecies—just
listen to God’s word and obey. Whatever God has planned will happen! That Day of the Lord doesn't actually happen until the start of the 1000-year Millenium, but we still must be watchful.
Always be joyful. Never stop praying.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to
Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but
test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every
kind of evil. Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your
whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ
comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 1
Thessalonians 5:16-24
Keep on praying—asking for wisdom and understanding…and be
thankful for all that God has done, is doing and will do in the future—for you
and for all those who believe in Him. Your relationship with Him is the key to
understanding His will and His way for His faithful followers.
Verse of Salvation ~ "And now arise, O LORD God,
and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. May
your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation; may your loyal servants
rejoice in your goodness. 2 Chronicles 6:41
[Will you one day serve as a king or priest for God?]
© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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