"Be Sober"

"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." 1 Thessalonians 5:8

When we think of the word "sober" we immediately think it's the opposite of being drunk-- and that is one of the definitions. But it also means "to be calm and collected in spirit". As Christians-- children of the day-- there is a peace that we should possess that those who are "of the night" do not have. We have God's peace-- a peace that passes understanding-- not the world's peace. (John 14:27)

If ever there was a time when we need to be "sober" (calm and collected in spirit) it's now. Daily we receive bad reports- reports of great calamites, reports that promote fear and can make you anxious and worried, reports of instability in the economy, discoveries of new diseases, food shortages, evil men rising to power, death and destruction on every hand.

When we are faced with these things, we don't need to be moved by fear, become worried, or prompted by what we see and hear to act in a rash manner. How is it possible? How can we stay calm? How do we stay collected- in full control of our faculties (our emotions and thoughts)? By putting on the "breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." These are part of our armor. We are "soldiers" of God in a spiritual war. (2 Timothy 2) There is a characteristic that is true of all soldiers-- they are trained and disciplined. As "soldiers" of the Lord we have been fully equipped with everything that we need to walk in a disciplined manner. We also have the Prince of Peace as our "Commander" leading the way and going before us. Even though He did sweat great drops of blood and prayed for the cup to pass from Him when he faced the cross, Jesus exhibited such great peace through His suffering. He was "sober" throughout His whole ordeal leaving us an example to follow and letting us know that through Him we can too. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Have a great day. Stay sober today... calm and collected.