The Letter Of The Apostle Paul To The Romans. Day 47, The Day Is Almost Here

In today's passage Paul quotes Jesus Christ in cautioning us to remember to love one another. He reminds us who we are in Christ. We are the people of the light, not of the darkness.

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8) We owe a debt of love to our fellow man. Or, as the Apostle John put it, if we are unable to love those around us whom we can see, how can we love God whom we cannot see? (1 John 4:20)

"The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not covet,' and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:9-10) Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord, and the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Mark 12:30-31) Jesus' brother James agreed, saying, "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right." (James 2:8)

"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." (Romans 13:11) Paul says not to sleepwalk through life. We are to live as if this could be the day Christ returns for us.

If we keep in mind that Christ could return at any moment, we will see the value of living every moment for Him and we will realize how urgent it is to get the gospel out to as many people as possible. "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." (Romans 13:12) We are to be soldiers of the Lord. Good soldiers don't laze around in bed all day. Good soldiers get up at the crack of dawn, put on their uniforms, and go about their appointed duties.

If we are to have any impact on those around us, we have to live lives that honor Christ. Our testimonies will have no power if we live like the world lives. People have to be able to see that we are sincerely trying to walk the walk as best we can. No one wants to hear the gospel from hypocritical lips. "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." (Romans 13:13-14)

Paul cautions us to live in such a way that we have nothing to hide. We all had a bunch of skeletons in our closets before we came to Christ. But now that we belong to Him, we should be able to freely fling the closet door open and invite anyone to look inside without feeling fear or shame. Paul says, "When the world looks in your closet, let them find nothing but the armor of Christ that you put on every morning as you go about your Father's business."