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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; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.(Romans 13:11-14)
Advent is all about time. Time for this. Time for that. Part of the time is spent hurrying up, but most of the time should be about waiting for the Lord. The Apostle in this passage calls for believers to wake up from sleep. His was an urgent message: There's work to do, and "salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers!" He wanted all people made right with God and he needed help doing it. Nothing has changed. Now more than ever, with declining interest in church, the church needs to be us going and doing the work that we usually took for granted that would happen on Sunday mornings. It is a matter of people caring for people's souls and telling them why Jesus came in the first place, and why He's coming a second time. Paul's description of what's going on in the meantime still speaks of what is going on now; revealing and drunkenness, debauchery and licentiousness, quarreling and jealousy - we're wearing the clothes of Satan when we do these things. Paul instead says we should dress with Christ; spiritual clothese that help us live out the sacred.
May it be so.
PRAYER: Loving God, clothe me with Christ Jesus. Wrap me in those wraps of holiness and purity. Cover my mind with thoughts of grace and love, my mouth with phrases of praise; use my feet to take me to those in need, and use my hands to care for the hurting, the lost, the last, and the least. This is an Advent message and I want to be faithful. I pray in Christ Jesus' powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
