S58P8 – This precious light: is our identity

1 Thes. 5:4-8

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

There were many great things about coaching in the junior hockey league.  He liked being able to develop the athletes the way he was developed by his coaches when he was their age.  He also liked being a good influence on the boys socially.  It was a way for someone who is not a parent to have a taste of filling that role.  Of course, there were some things about coaching that were not that great.  Adolescent personalities can be difficult.  Whenever a new player signed up for the league, the questions would begin among the coaches.  One never knew how a kid would get along with the others or take instruction and criticism.  When William signed up to play, however, those questions did not exist. The coaches knew William’s father and his family.  That was enough to tell them the kind of kid he is.

We are all children, and there are two types of children in this world. Some of us are children of darkness, and some of us are children of light.  These designations, these associations with a family lineage, provide our identity.  That identity should be evident to others when they see how we live and how we are.  The children of light should possess certain characteristics that are passed down from their Father through that lineage.  These are our identifiers.  Not only should the world be able to spot us based on these, but we should be able to know each other by them as well.  Likewise, the children of darkness carry the characteristics of their father.  That identity is evident by their misdeeds and evil acts.  There should be no question for anyone regarding whether we are in fact children of light when compared to those of darkness.

Our identity in the light of life that we receive from Jesus Christ should be something we wear proudly like a badge for all to see.  We are called to be holy, set apart from the world.  There must be a stark contrast between us and them.  If they are cold, we are to be hot.  It should not be our desire to be like the children of darkness in any way. The breastplate and the helmet that we are instructed to wear by today’s verse keeps our hearts and minds guarded and discerning.  This helps us maintain lives that are lived according to the light, distinct from the darkness.  Father, remove from us anything that does not reflect your character and clearly show that our identity is in the light of our Savior and Lord.