But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation (1Thessalonians 5:8).
In 1 Thessalonians 5, the apostle Paul gives a brilliant commentary through the Holy Spirit concerning Jesus’ discourse regarding the believer and Light (His life). The admonition is that those of us who are of the day (Light) must put on the breastplate of faith. This is the same breastplate called “righteousness” in Ephesians 6:14. We receive this breastplate protection by believing God as Abraham did (Romans 4:3, 5, 21-22). Also by believing Him, we enter a covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “but of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
Romans 3 teaches us that the weaker Abraham’s body became, the stronger his faith grew. God allowed impotency to paralyze every possibility of human effort. As a result, only God Himself could perform for Abraham what He had promised. Abraham’s requirement was to believe Him who had promised—that is, to exercise faith in God alone.
As a son of the day (son of God), I must know experientially that His grace is sufficient for me; that His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Therefore, when all hope seems lost, I must continue to exercise my faith which causes me to hope against hope. Faith in God always carries or propels me to His goal or purpose. I must always know what the goal of my faith is. As a believer, what I know will always work for me just as what I don’t know will always work against me. In 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6, the Holy Spirit gives us the knowledge of who we are in Christ Jesus. He says, “you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep.” If we “sleep,” it is evident that we are not using the formidable weapon of faith with which we can reach every goal and achieve every purpose God has for us. May it be so that we always walk in faith!