Bible Studies

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The Letters
Romans 13:11-14 - Putting on the Armor of Light
Key Verses: (NRSV)

• 11: “Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers." - Now is the moment to prepare for salvation. We can no longer delay or put off what needs to be done - open our hearts today to the glory and hope that awaits us.
  
  
• 12: "The night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." - Temptations that dominate our lives and the inward focus towards our pain, suffering, and selfishness must be laid aside. The hope that lies ahead depends on the action we take today.
  
  
• 13: "Let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy." - All sin must be set aside, even the "little" sins that we have accepted as our shortcomings and weaknesses.
  
  
• 14: "Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." - These words from Paul have changed the lives of millions of people by deciding that now is the time to begin the life of holiness that Christ offers.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• What time is it? Is it just another morning like so many others that came before it? Will your life simply go on as it has before? Will you continue to struggle with controlling your anger in traffic? Will you continue to make those wicked remarks behind the back of a coworker you just do not like? Will you continue to lack patience with your children or spouse? Does your focus remain on your pain and struggles? Are you heavily burdened, over-worked, and unappreciated? Paul suggests that now is the time to turn that all around. Do not hesitate a moment longer. The season of hope is upon us and the choice is yours to wake up and celebrate.
  
  
• Are you living honorably? Or do you accept that you are an imperfect vessel in God's kingdom? Do you recognize your sinful tendencies but see no real hope in ever changing? Is your life controlled by these powers of darkness? Do you see the hope in Paul's message? Do you understand that you do not need to continue living in darkness? Are you ready to put on the armor of light and allow real change to enter your heart?
  
  
• How do you "put on the Lord Jesus Christ?" Paul's suggestion seems plausible and yet, how does one go about doing it? Is the first step to develop a willingness to change? When the hope that a new life is truly available begins to fill your heart, will you then willingly hand all aspects of your life over to Christ and trust that He will care for you and gratify your needs? Can you set your self aside, making no provisions for fulfilling those needs you have come dependent upon? Can you look towards the needs of others instead? Will you seek understanding in prayer and study? Will you simply strive each moment to live your life in ways that are worthy of the love that Christ has showered upon you?
  

Promises of the Gospel:

St Augustine lived a life filled with a focus on fulfilling his insatiable sexual desires. Nothing seemed to curb his appetite for the flesh. Even while he began studying about Christ he would cry out "Lord, grant me chastity, just not yet."¹ The failings, weaknesses, shortcomings, and sinful behaviors we face in life will continue to have control over us as long as we choose to allow them to. Paul says that "now (is) the moment for (us) to wake from sleep." Now is the time to allow the hope of Christmas to fill our hearts. For Augustine, the moment he chose to take charge of his life and to put on the armor of light was the moment he read these verses from Romans. As we light the first Advent candle let us decide today to allow the light of Christ into our hearts so that His Hope will guide us into a glorious tomorrow, living an honorable life worthy of His love.

¹EMPOWERED BY THE LIGHT, RICHARD A. HASLER, CSS Publishing Company, 1995, 0-7880-0472-7

FUMC Devotionals

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