WEEKLY DEVOTION

Now is the time to awake out of sleep

“And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Romans 13:11 (Read v. 11-14)

Even though we confess it almost every Sunday in the Apostles’ Creed, we often forget the fact that the day of our Lord’s return to judge the living and the dead is drawing closer each and every day. Truly, it is high time to awake from the sleep of our sin-darkened minds and make ourselves ready for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jehovah God in the flesh, the judge of the living and the dead!

Rather than be lulled into the false security that our Lord’s return and the day of judgment is far off and thinking we will have time later to repent and prepare ourselves for His coming, now is the time to “cast off the works of darkness, and … put on the armour of light.” Now is the time to “walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” Now is the time to “put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

While we may not see and recognize it, not only is our salvation threatened by the temptations of the devil and of the world around us; our own flesh - our old nature, inclined to sin and wickedness (cf. Jer. 17:9; Rom. 7:18-19) - threatens to turn us away from Christ and back into the sinfulness and rebellion from which Christ has set us free.

We ourselves cannot overcome sin and drive it out of our lives. Thus, the Word of God directs us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ - to place our faith and hope in Him - and not provide opportunity for our old sinful fl esh to drag us back down into the muck and mire of sin (cf. Heb. 12:1-2).

As the light of God’s Word shines upon our hearts, we are reminded that Jesus is coming and coming soon! He endures the wickedness of this world a little longer only because He desires all to repent and come to the knowledge of His grace and mercy in Christ Jesus (2 Pet. 3:9). Now is the time for us to repent and look to Christ Jesus and His blood, shed upon the cross for the sins of the world, for mercy, forgiveness and life everlasting!

O coming Savior, grant that I not be lulled to sleep in the darkness of sin but repent of my sins and wickedness and look to You for mercy, forgiveness and the eternal joys of heaven You have prepared for all who trust in You. Amen.

News, Pages 2 on 12/04/2013