Faith, Hope, and Love – God’s Armour

    As we continue our study of Bible references that make mention of the vital trio of faith, hope, and love, we arrive now at this passage:

“But let us who of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8 NKJV)

    Looking at the surrounding context and other bible verses we quickly learn that “us who are of the day” refers to Christians, brethren who are not in darkness* (5:4), nor of darkness or the night (5:5). People who once were darkness but now are light in the Lord and walk as children of light, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord (Ephesians 5:8-10).

*Side Note: “darkness” always refers to sin and “works of darkness” to sinful activities, because God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all (1 John 1:5-6). Read 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 and 1 John 2:9-11 and consider the efforts of the devil to blind and keep souls in darkness. Jesus states the difference between light and darkness in John 3:19-21. God calls us out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9) through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Romans 10:17) so that He can deliver us out of darkness (Colossians 1:12-13). He commissioned the apostle Paul to preach the gospel “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God…” (Acts 26:18). Everything that is opposite or against God and His way is ‘darkness.’

    We who are of the day must be sober. This means that we must be watchful, alert, careful (circumspect), and self-controlled; it also means that we are prepared to face the Light (the day of Judgement). Read and think on Ephesians 5:15-18, Matthew 24:42-44, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 16:13-14, 1 John 3:1-3, and Matthew 5:8.  One who is drunk is unaware, even oblivious, and recoils from the light. “We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5b-6, NKJV)

    Christians who are watchful and self-controlled, who work at preparing themselves to meet the Lord, will put on the breastplate of faith and love – Whoa! Wait a minute… I thought Christians were supposed to put on “the breastplate of righteousness”? That’s what Ephesians 6:14 says! – Okay, think of it this way: Faith in God (Romans 10:17, Luke 6:46-49) and love for God (John 14:15, 1 John 5:3) will motivate us do what is right in God’s sight, which is righteousness (1 John 3:7-8). Developing a deeper faith and increasing our love for God will guard our heart, so that we do what is right and are shielded from the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16, James 4:7). Faith mixed with love leads to righteousness!

    So, we are to be alert and prepared by wearing God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-18), guarding our vital inward parts (heart) with faith and love (righteousness) and also protecting our mind when we wear, as a helmet, the hope of salvation! This hope can safeguard our minds as we press toward the goal (Philippians 3:12-15) because it keeps our minds focused on God’s glorious grace and His abundant blessings. Wearing this “helmet” means that we also are prepared and ready to talk about/share our hope through Jesus (1 Peter 3:15, Titus 2:11-14)!

    Faith, hope, and love are all part of the essential armour of God. They are all needed to be adequately prepared and protected as we walk as children of light in this world of darkness!

   Do you put on God’s armour each and every day? You need to put it on daily so that you can become familiar and comfortable in it, learn how to use it, and realize its best benefits! Only then will you be prepared to meet the Lord!! It is worth every effort to put on faith, hope, and love every.single.day!!

You can do it! So can I!!