Sometimes we need to be reminded of things we know and the passage in today’s devotional is one of those. 

Paul writes in Romans 13:11-14, “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

I am often asked if we are in the “last days.” My answer is always yes because the last days have been with us since Jesus returned to heaven and said, I am coming soon. We are closer to that event today than we were yesterday. As Paul says, “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, the day is almost here.” With that in mind, let's live today as if we were going to see Him tomorrow.

I love how Paul starts this passage. “And do this, understanding the present time.” What is the “this” we are to do? Very simply, to behave decently, to get rid of sin in our lives we have been hanging on to and instead clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and what we know He is pleased with. 

Let's be honest. We all get lazy about certain things in our lives that we know in our heart of hearts God is not pleased with. And our sin can be sin of omission or commission: not doing what we should be doing or doing what we should not be doing. Paul says, wake up my friend. Knowing that we will see Jesus soon, “put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” He says. “Do this”....Today!

He is challenging us to focus on the Jesus life and not on the desires of our sinful nature. It is a choice we always have. If we just go with the flow of our own desires we become sloppy in our Jesus life because many of our desires are sinful. My underlying anger, my unkind words, my jealousy of others, my cutting words, my lack of generosity. Whatever it is, Paul says, wake up, the Day is near. Don’t live on autopilot gratifying the desires of your lower nature but put on the clothing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Father, remind me often that you are returning and help me to live life in light of eternity. In fact, help me to wake up from my slumber in those areas of my life where I know my life does not please you. Amen.