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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; 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; 13 let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:11-14 NRSV)
Happy Tuesday, dear Friend! Prayers for this day to bless and enrich your life as you also seek to enrich someone else's life! I am rejoicing in the report I received from my dear friend Jorge Saenz, who was told no cancer was found! I thank God for this news and pray that whatever is next, which I believe is an X-ray periodic check, continue to show that our brother is indeed cancer-free! Our sister Glenna Reese's knee replacement surgery went well and she was up and walking almost immediately, again praise God! Let us continue to pray for one another, lifting up our needs and continuing to give God glory and thanks for His wonderful gifts and mercies. Pray for those traveling this week; pray for the children who are already on Thanksgiving holiday; and pray for peace when families reunite to feast and thank God together.
A couple of weeks ago, Grandma and Grandpa watched our firstborn grandchild. She's a delight and joy to be with, and we stayed in her home while Mom and Dad traveled for business purposes. Our baby is now in high school and on the debate team. Her day starts early and while our baby is aware of the time her favorite phrase has become, "Five more minutes, please!" That was each day. Five more minutes! Of course, we graciously granted it but we had to come up with more gentle ways to encourage her promptness, wishing to avoid a grandparent/teacher conference. The Apostle Paul knew what time it was.
Paul is writing to the most important city in the Western World at the time, the capital city of Rome. He was writing to the believers in the city with his message for all who were "sleepers" to "awaken." The urgency of salvation is on his mind and he does not want anyone to miss out on this important life-giving gift from God. The "night" of the troubles and persecutions the church had faced, he believed, were almost over, and the dawning of "day," when Christ would return, was near. Time, Paul says, to put away the "works of darkness and put on the armor of light." I've shared the wonderful story my wife shared with me about when she was a Sunday school teacher and was having her class wrap up for the morning and one of her students looked out the window and yelled, "Jesus is coming! Let's hurry and clean the room! Jesus is coming!" Nellie smiled and looked out and smiled; it was me coming over to her classroom. The young man saw me as Jesus and he sensed the urgency and importance of being ready. Paul was the same way, as should we!
How can we be ready when Jesus comes? Paul says we can start by living honorable lives, and not by living in reveling ways and drunkenness; we should stay away from debauchery and licentiousness, nor by quarreling and jealousy, but rather we should live as if we were wearing Jesus Christ as our Lord, staying away from the flesh and its constant demand that we satisfy its desires; live lives that rise about that into the realms of the holy and pure.
Advent means to be ready. Jesus is coming! What have we done about His first visit? And what will we do to prepare for His return?
PRAYER: Loving Father, prepare our hearts to have room in them for Jesus right now. And may it carry over into the realm where we can truly prepare for His return; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Help others prepare for Jesus' return.
Receive my blessings of joy and hope. I love you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
