Reflections based on 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 and Ephesians 6:10–18.

‘since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

I know the armour of God passage in Ephesians really well. I’ve done studies on it, and I make a huge effort to put on the armour of God each day so that I am equipped for the battle of life as a Christian – and I encourage others to do the same.

But, when I first started researching instances of hope in the Bible for this series, I was really struck by the Thessalonians passage. I don’t think I’d ever noticed the imagery used before: faith and love being the breastplate, and the hope of salvation our helmet. It really brought the armour to life for me in a new way.

The breastplate is called the breastplate of righteousness in the Ephesians passage. The plate covers our hearts, protecting what is the seat of our emotions, our sense of self-worth, trust etc. Faith and love being the ingredients that make up that breastplate makes so much sense!

The helmet of salvation protects our head – our mind – from the seeds of doubt that the enemy wants to place in it. He wants us to doubt our salvation as it makes us so ineffective. Putting on the helmet of the hope of salvation speaks to me of actively ensuring our hope is in the right place,. By putting it on we are reminding ourselves of the fact that we have a future hope in the saving work of Jesus Christ. 

Both these passages talk about the need to be alert and active. None of us know when Jesus will return and we need to live with an attitude of expectation. Wearing the armour, including the helmet of hope, is so important. As is being self-controlled and supportive of one another.

For prayer and reflection: Reflect on 1 Corinthians 13 and Colossians 1:5. I love this quote from Mick Brooks: ‘Love may be the greatest quality we can possess, but both love and faith depend upon hope’.