1 Thessalonians 5:3-13

3 About the time everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other - "We've sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!" - suddenly everything will fall apart. It's going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.
4 But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this?
5 You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand.
6 So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart.
7 People sleep at night and get drunk at night.
8 But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.
9 God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ.
10 He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him!
11 So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.
12 And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience.
13 Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!

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Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.