Our living God Pt 21: The day is near
Romans 13:11-14 11And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Wake from your slumber
Paul isn’t talking about physical sleep. He’s referring to a spiritual drowsiness that can take hold of believers when they become too comfortable, distracted, or disconnected from God. He’s calling on the early Christians—and by extension, all of us today—to become alert, vigilant, and spiritually awake.
We live in a world where it is easy to be lulled into complacency. Daily routines, entertainment, work, and even social media can distract us from our walk with God. Recently, I uninstalled Facebook from my phone because I discovered I was wasting hours each day scrolling through videos instead of seeking God. Paul is reminding us that faith isn’t meant to be passive. It's an active, living relationship with Christ that should shape our thoughts, actions, and desires.
Jesus also emphasized the importance of being watchful. In Matthew 24:42, He says, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." Spiritual wakefulness means being in tune with God’s will, nurturing our faith, and not letting the world dull our senses. To wake from our slumber, we must take intentional steps. This could include setting aside regular time for prayer and Scripture reading, participating in community worship, and evaluating areas in our lives where we’ve become spiritually lazy. Just as physical alarm clocks jolt us out of sleep, Paul’s message is a spiritual alarm urging us to rise up and live with purpose.
The day is almost here
The imagery of night and day Paul uses is meant to reflect the transition from a world dominated by sin (night) to one redeemed by Christ (day).
"The day" refers to the return of Christ and the full realization of God’s kingdom. Though we don’t know the exact time, Paul’s point is that it’s closer now than ever. This urgency should motivate us to live lives of integrity, kindness, and faith. Day can also refer to the simple coming of daytime. Paul is pointing out that the evil things we do are generally done at night. We sometimes live hypocritical lives: One person at night when no one can see; quite another when visible to the whole world.
The "deeds of darkness" include behaviors and attitudes that go against God’s commands—things like jealousy, drunkenness, sexual immorality, and selfishness. These are things that thrive in secrecy, in shadows. When Paul tells us to cast them off, he’s urging us to let go of what holds us back and instead live transparently and righteously.
Living in the light means embodying the values Jesus taught: love, humility, forgiveness, and truth. Ephesians 5:8-9 says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)." This shift from darkness to light is not just a one-time decision; it’s a daily commitment. Each morning presents a new opportunity to live for God and reject the temptations that try to pull us back into the night.
Clothe yourselves with Jesus Christ
Romans 13:14 gives us a beautiful metaphor: "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." Clothing ourselves with Christ means adopting His character, His priorities, and His love. Just as clothes are something we put on daily, putting on Christ is a daily decision. It involves turning away from selfish desires and embracing the qualities that defined Jesus—compassion, patience, service, and obedience to the Father.
Galatians 3:27 echoes this idea: "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." This means that our identity is no longer rooted in our past mistakes or worldly labels. Instead, we’re seen by God as His children, clothed in the righteousness of His Son.
Putting on Christ changes how we interact with others. We become more forgiving, more generous, and more empathetic. It influences how we handle stress, success, and failure. With Christ as our covering, we approach life with a confidence that doesn’t come from ourselves but from the One who lives in us. This transformation is ongoing. There will be days when we fall short, but the call to clothe ourselves with Christ reminds us that God’s grace is always available. It’s not about perfection but about direction—continually moving toward Christlikeness.
What about me?
Romans 13:11-14 is a powerful wake-up call for believers in every generation. It challenges us to:
Wake up to the reality of our spiritual condition.
Recognize the urgency of the times we live in.
Cast off old, destructive habits.
Put on the character and life of Jesus.
So how can we live this out practically?
Daily Devotion: Start each day with Scripture and prayer. Let God’s Word guide your mindset and decisions.
Accountability: Surround yourself with fellow believers who can encourage you and keep you accountable. Being involved in community is absolutely necessary because it protects us from being picked off by the enemy’s flaming arrows of lust, or chemical abuse, or idolatry.
Serve Others: Jesus came to serve. Find ways to bless others in your community, church, or family.
Guard Your Mind: Be mindful of what you consume—what you watch, read, and listen to. Feed your spirit with truth and goodness. This is why I gave up Facebook: Although seemingly innocuous, it took time away from my Lord.
Stay Ready: Always live as if today could be the day Christ returns. Not out of fear, but out of reverence and hope.
Romans 13:11-14 is not just an ancient letter to the Roman church; it's a personal letter to each of us. Paul is urging us to live with intention, to be spiritually alert, and to reflect Christ in all we do. The time for passivity is over. The night is fading. The day is almost here. Let us rise, dress ourselves in the light of Christ, and walk boldly in the path He has laid before us. It’s time to wake from our slumber. The day is almost here. Let us clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ and live as children of the light.