"But dear brothers, you are not in the dark about these things, and you won’t be surprised as by a thief when that day of the Lord comes." (NLT) 1 Thessalonians 5:4

By God’s grace, we have been called out of darkness into the Kingdom of His glorious Son, Jesus Christ (Col. 1:13). This transformation into the light comes with revealed truths about life on earth and eternity (Eph. 5:13). One of the most profound truths is that Christ will return. Both the Old and New Testaments refer to the judgment day as the "day of the Lord."

In today’s devotional text, the writer reminds Christians of what they already know: Christ will come again. His return is likened to a thief in the night—unannounced, though we are aware of their existence and actions. Christ warns that His coming will not be delayed; He will return at an unexpected time. The mystery lies in the fact that no one, except God the Father, knows the exact day or hour of His return (Matt. 24:36). Therefore, Christians are urged to always be ready so that this day will not take them by surprise.

This calls for a lifestyle of continual godliness as we await His appearing. As pilgrims on earth, Christians must view themselves as citizens of heaven, not of this world. We are not to conform to the patterns of this world but instead live holy lives through the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2).

We must remind ourselves daily that the day of the Lord is near. While we do not know what tomorrow holds, we know the One who holds tomorrow—God. He desires full custody of His children. Reflecting on this truth, we are encouraged to maintain a close and constant relationship with God. This is the only way to remain in the light and avoid being caught off guard when He returns in glory.

Merely attending Sunday worship is insufficient; treating it as a “weekend visit” to God falls short of His expectations. God desires our whole selves—our time, resources, finances, knowledge, wisdom, and every aspect of our lives. We must surrender to Him fully, giving Him full custody of our being. When we do, our concerns become His priorities. I would much rather be God’s priority than be secondary on His list of blessings.

Beloved brothers and sisters, GOD WANTS FULL CUSTODY, NOT JUST WEEKEND VISITS.

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