Welcome to Day 17 of our series, working through the Book of Romans with Hellomornings.
The Scripture passage for today is Romans 13: 11 - 14 ...
Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.
Paul's warning to the Roman Believers in Verse 12 - 13a rings just as strong and true for us today as it did for them: "The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Â Let us walk with decency ..."
Although our faith in Christ has set us free from bondage to sin, and made us new creations, our carnal nature and the lures of this fallen world continue to draw us in, if we are not careful and diligent to dress daily, constantly, in the "armour of light".
Paul's message is both challenging and inspiring: "Change the way you live!" he cries out to the children of God. "We are no longer in darkness, so don't live like the darkness anymore! Instead, live as Christ would live."
Peter gives us a similar challenge in 1 Peter 2: 9: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people for His possession,
so that you may proclaim the praises
of the One who called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light."
This verse reminds us that the call to live set apart, in the light, is not only for our good, but it brings glory to God, and proclaims Him and His Gospel message to the world that so needs Him!
"Obedience puts Christ on display for others to be drawn to His light, and offers life and peace for all who choose to walk in it." (Sabrina Gogerty)