Romans Chapter 13: Verses 11-14 (NLT)
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. 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. 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. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Following on from yesterday’s musings, I am reminded in these verses, that as ambassadors for Jesus we have a responsibility to live decent lives, because people are watching how we react in every day situations. I’m also reminded that little children often don’t like us to know when they are up to things that we shouldn’t. Aren’t we sometimes wary when it’s quiet and we can’t see what they’re up to; sometimes we have good reason to be.
Even as adults we still sometimes don’t like others catching us out doing something we shouldn’t – even if its just taking an extra chocolate biscuit out of the fridge! In this letter, Paul says the best way for us to live the kind of lives that we should is to clothe ourselves with the presence of Jesus. If we remind ourselves to do this, we might also consider how Jesus feels when He sees us behaving in a way that we shouldn’t.
Little children sometimes think that because they can’t see us we can’t see them, yet we know that isn’t true. We need to remember that just because we can’t see Jesus doesn’t mean He can’t see us. If we willingly choose to cover our day with His presence, He will keep us on the right path.
Dear Lord,
Help me to make the effort to clothe myself daily with the presence of Jesus, and to remind myself that You are with me at all times. If I’d be ashamed of anyone else seeing my behaviour, I also need to remember that You see everything, and nothing is hidden from You. I do need Your guidance and direction every day. Amen.