Wake Up!

 Romans 13: 11-14v 12 “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.”

Time is running out. Wake up. 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 let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

The alarm on my phone went off at 7am this morning. I did not have to get up for anything, I had forgotten to turn it off from last week. But now I am awake. And then I read this passage. A reminder to think about right living. Does it mean giving a gift to the local food bank? Donating a toy to those who are struggling to find extra for such treats? Looking at donating to bigger organizations that will provide a chicken or a goat to a family overseas for food and income? Or donating to a local hospital for more equipment? All of these are great things to do. But what about quarreling and jealousy? Being separated from God? How do we put on the shining armor of right living?

Today make time to say something nice to those you live with. Instead of thinking about the socks on the floor and not in the laundry basket, think about how nice it is to have someone in the other room, who can reach items on the top shelf for you. Accept that email invite to a gathering of friends you haven’t seen for a while instead of complaining about driving in the dark. Buy some of the wonderful cookies baked by local bakers to take to the work Christmas gathering instead of stressing about making them yourself and talk to the person who is standing next to you about the house near you with the best Christmas lights. Take a quiet minute to pray.

Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the wonder of the Christmas season, thank you for the opportunities to live right that you provide every day. I pray especially for the family who lives close to me who have struggles that only you are aware of. Bring joy into their lives. Help me today to wake up to the needs of the world and make me a part of the solution. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.