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It was one of those cold, rainy days—perfect for napping. My alertness had ground to a halt, and I could no longer focus on my current task.

God made our bodies to need rest, and sometimes naps are good. But there are other times when they are not so good.

While napping may be a natural need, Paul reminded the Thessalonians that they should not nap spiritually. He warned them that the day of the Lord was coming soon. The culture around them tried to lull them into spiritual complacency by focusing on peace and safety.

While there is nothing wrong with these two ideals, Paul’s emphasis suggests that making them of primary importance equals tolerating every false idea circulating in culture.

The world told the Thessalonians to compromise and go with the flow. What could be wrong with allowing those who worship Aphrodite to go to her temple and worship? What was wrong with going with them occasionally? Surely, they were not to speak out against this. After all, her worshippers could have been good, moral citizens. Instead, Paul tells the believers to stand firm for their faith in the Lord, to speak out boldly for the gospel, and to speak against the worldly values that contradict it.

Our impetus for speaking up and out comes from recognizing that Christ’s return is imminent. Rather than accepting the status quo, we should be alert to false ideas and ready to counter them. We base our faith on the hope of a future far better than our current way of living. Therefore, we must guard against wrong thinking and not be lulled into a sense of passivity by a culture that pressures us to compromise.

Have you compromised in areas of your life? Do you need to recognize that this world and its beliefs will not last for eternity? With which family member or friend can you share this realization?

(photo courtesy of pixabay.com.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)