Don't be Caught Napping

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

I have a nephew who recently said that he doesn’t like naps. I’m appalled! Well, that is an overstatement, but I do like a good nap occasionally. Sunday afternoon is my favorite nap time. Maybe it is because of some sort of Sabbath rhythm, but I can hardly function between 2 and 3 on a Sunday afternoon. Napping is a necessity around then.

In this passage, Paul was writing about the day of the Lord and the suddenness by which it will come upon humanity. It will be “like a thief in the night.”

But Paul makes a distinction between the believer and unbeliever in this regard. The way he describes it is the unbeliever is of the night or darkness and the believer is of the light or the daytime. The thief comes at night. That is where he gets his element of surprise. Since we are not of the night, we won’t be caught off guard…unless…

Paul warns us not to be sleeping. Sleeping is a nighttime activity.

I like my naps, but I don’t need to be spiritually napping. Neither should you.

Stay awake.

napping