Through the Bible - Deuteronomy 17-19, Mark 14:32-52
Good morning,
Yesterday's verse from John 13 dealt with knowing and applying what we learn from God's Word.
For today's verse we turn to the book of Romans. The first 11 chapters of this great book primarily focus on doctrine, teaching us about God's will for us. Chapters 12 to 16 deal more with application (with some more doctrine worked in).
Today's verse is from Romans 13:
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. NKJV
Verse 12 speaks of "casting off the works of darkness", throw them off, throw them behind us, or into the sea. Another picture would be to "cast off" as a ship casts of from the dock that it had been moored to.
Since Christ's return is imminent, we are being challenged to cast off the things of the world, repent, and follow Christ.
Pastor Greg Laurie writes, "There are things we must be aware of as we live in the last days. As the apostle Paul wrote, "The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light" (Romans 13:12).
Your relationship with Jesus Christ needs constant maintenance and cultivation. The day that you stop growing spiritually is the day you start to become weak and vulnerable to the devil's attacks. The best way to not go backward is to keep moving forward."
Verse 14 tells us to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" and make no provision for the flesh. Those "provisions" the sins that we'd like to hold onto are what keep us "moored" and following Christ wholeheartedly.
What needs to be done in your life so that you may have "A Closer Walk with Thee".
JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Rom 13:8-14:1
Love Your Neighbor
(cf. Mark 12:31; James 2:8)
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Put on Christ
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
NKJV
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