Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Romans 13:8-14 (NLT)
Wake up! The apostle Paul ends his letter to the Romans with an exhortation for the Believers not to waste time grumbling and worrying about things they cannot change. He is like cheerleaders on the sidelines of a football game who are giving it all they have. Paul is speaking to the Army of God to throw off the darkness of their previous lives and embrace the Light of Jesus Christ. Make a Choice! Sin that may satisfy your flesh for a moment or day – or the Way of Christ that brings eternal life. Which will I choose today?
My friends, every day when I get up, I have a choice. Will I begin the day with thanksgiving knowing that whatever the day brings, Jesus will be with me every step? Will I continue my day with “breath prayers,” asking God for His wisdom when decisions must be made and no answer seems good. Or will I ask my Father for more patience and grace as I meet people who challenge my spiritual bank of grace? With tears in my eyes, will I find those moments of privacy and ask God for His mercy and healing for someone I love who is so very ill, maybe even dying? And at the end of the day will I lay my head upon my pillow and drop the heavy backpack of burdens I have collected throughout the day at the feet of my Father, trusting Him for the night and all the tomorrows?
The alternative choice is to keep a tight handhold on my plans for my burdens because I know I must do what needs to be done. But – how has that been working for me?
The life of a child of God is not without troubles. God never promised me an abundant life in this world. He promised He would never leave me (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). He promised He would never tire or be caught by surprise (Isaiah 65:24) but would watch over me 24/7 (Isaiah 40:28). And no one and nothing can take me from the security of His hand (John 10:28-29).
It is for me to make a choice each day to connect myself in thought, word and deed to my LORD. It is a conscious choice to spend time with Him and learn the sound and character of His voice. Like a child who knows his mother’s/father’s voice over the babble of many others, I know my Father’s voice and trust Him with my life.
10,000 Reasons written & sung by Matt Redman
