DAILY TEXT, Monday, August 4, 2025, Let us put on breastplate and helmet (1 Thess. 5:8).

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2025

Monday, August 4, 2025

Let us put on breastplate and helmet (1 Thess. 5:8).

The apostle Paul compared us to soldiers who are vigilant and have their armor on. In times of war, a soldier must always be ready for battle. The same is true for us. We show that we are prepared for the day of Jehovah if we put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of hope.

Just as the breastplate protected the soldier's heart, faith and love protect our symbolic heart. These qualities help us continue serving Jehovah and following Jesus. Through faith, we are convinced that Jehovah rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Heb. 11:6) Faith also motivates us to remain loyal to our Leader, Jesus, despite difficulties.

To strengthen our faith and face challenges, let us look at how the brothers and sisters have managed to maintain integrity in the face of persecution or economic crises. And, so that we are not trapped by the desire for material things, we can follow the example of those who live a simple life and put God's Kingdom first. w23.06 10 pars. 8, 9.

How does love for God and neighbor help us?

To stay awake and maintain sound judgment, we also need love (Matt. 22:37-39). For example, love for God helps us continue preaching even when difficulties arise (2 Tim. 1:7, 8). Because we also love people who don't share our beliefs, we do everything possible to share our message with them, even by phone or letter. We don't give up on them. Rather, we hope that they will one day change and begin to do what is right (Ezek. 18:27, 28).

How does loving our brothers and sisters help us? (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

We also love our brothers and sisters, and we show it by encouraging and building one another up (read 1 Thessalonians 5:11). Soldiers fighting together support one another. But in the midst of battle, they might inadvertently injure a fellow soldier; they would never do it on purpose. Likewise, we would never knowingly harm our brothers or repay them evil for evil (1 Thessalonians 5:13, 15).

Another way to show we love the brothers is by respecting those who lead the congregation (1 Thess. 5:12). Consider the congregation in Thessalonica. When Paul wrote this letter, it had been operating for less than a year. The elders were likely inexperienced and made mistakes, but they were to be respected.

As the great tribulation approaches, we may need to rely more on the elders of the congregation than we do now, for we may lose contact with world headquarters and the branch office, and lack their guidance. Therefore, it is very important that we learn to love and respect the elders of our congregation now. Whatever happens, let us maintain sound judgment and not focus on their shortcomings. Rather, let us keep in mind that Jehovah is using Christ to guide these faithful men.

How does hope protect our thoughts?

Just as the helmet protected the soldier's head, the hope of salvation protects our thoughts. Because we hold our hope in high regard, we consider what this world offers to be of no use (Phil. 3:8). Hope also calms our hearts and gives us stability.

That's what happened to Wallace and Laurinda, who were serving in Africa. In just three weeks, one lost his father and the other his mother. And they couldn't return to their home country to be with their family because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He wrote: “The hope of the resurrection helps me so much. I don't think about how they were in their last days in this world, but rather how they will be in their first days in the new world. Thanks to this hope, I feel calmer. The sadness of having lost them is more bearable.”

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