Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang
0
LENT_WEBSITE_BANNER-01.jpg

Lent Devotion

LENT_WEBSITE-01.jpg
 

"At the Foot of the Cross" is an annual Lenten devotion written by clergy and lay leaders in the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia. This devotion has been faithfully produced since 1992 and this year's theme is on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Join us as we journey together towards the foot of the cross.

 
 

12 March - Like A Thief in The Night

 

“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

 

It has been more than a year since our life was first disrupted because of the COVID19 pandemic. Phrases such as “new norm,” “social distancing,” and “temperature check” are now part of our daily vocabulary. For some of us, there is a deep longing for things to go back to how they used to be – where we could travel abroad, meet physically as a church and not have to wear a mask whenever we go out. How much longer must we wait for that day? Some may put their hopes in the availability of vaccine so that life can be normal again.

Our present circumstances may not be too different from the situation in Thessalonica. Faced with trials and persecution (2:14-16; 3:3-5), the Thessalonians’ lives had been disrupted since they became followers of Jesus. At the same time, a number of believers grieved for the death of their loved ones (4:13-18). Throughout his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul keeps reminding them of their ultimate hope in Christ and his coming again, as we read in our text today (see also 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:15-17; 5:23). Yet others, instead of placing their trust in Jesus, turned to the ‘Pax Romana’ (the Peace of Rome) ushered in by Caesar Augustus that resulted in the economic prosperity of the Roman Empire. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the ‘Pax Romana’ should never be their hope (5:3), just like the hope some place in the vaccine against COVID-19. The peace and safety that the world offers are at best temporary!

Paul’s message to the Thessalonians reminds us that as we approach Easter, it is important to turn our attention to the true King in our lives. We live in difficult times. All of us, in some ways, have experienced trauma in the current pandemic. Some of us lost our jobs. Some of us have had our income slashed and we know of people going through mental health issues. Some of us wonder where God is as we navigate through these storms in our lives. Yet, throughout the trials, let us not place our hope in the vaccine or the peace that the world offers but in Jesus himself, who will surely return one day ‘like a thief in the night’ (v.2). He is our true hope! Let us be vigilant, remain faithful to him, and be ready for his return.

PONDER

Are we ready for the return of Jesus?

PROMISE

“See, I am coming soon … I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12-13)

PRAYER

Everlasting Father, your Son Jesus Christ will soon come again: help us fix our eyes on him, the author and perfector of our faith, so that we will be ready to meet him when he comes. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Article by the Reverend Dr Lim Kar Yong, Lecturer in New Testament Studies, Director of Postgraduate Studies, and Director for the Centre for Bible Engagement at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, Seremban.

HTBB