JMD Devotional 241 Romans 13:10-14 This Critical Hour

Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law. Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah). The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).

Most of the time we live as if the status quo will never change, that things will always be as they are now; but we should know better. The world is so used to living in the dark that they think the murky grey shadows are light. When the Day Star rises and shines upon the Earth, it will be as if we never saw a sunrise before. God has set a plan in motion, and there will be a consummation of the ages. No matter how long you have lived, you are just that much closer to judgment day. If we are in Christ, we need not fear for ourselves; but there should be concern for the lost. A critical hour is coming, and keeping silent about it is doing harm to one’s neighbor as surely as failing to warn them of a dam breach. Don’t let your friends and loved ones be washed away in ignorance, for want of a godly warning, an earnest plea for their soul!

Dear God,
It is hard to witness to a world that is hostile to the Truth; but give me courage and a compelling message. Many times my awkward efforts seem to have done more harm than good; please give me a winsome countenance and a gentle spirit. Speak through me. Make me aware of opportunities. Keep me from behavior that spoils those opportunities; help me to be consistently Holy. It’s high time, Lord; may Your people stand tall in Christ.
Amen

All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)

If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to
my daily devotional, please forward.
jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com
Short, concise, thought-provoking.

More features:


http://SaintJamesPoetry.blogspot.com

http://recoverydevotional.blogspot.com/

http://jamesezadventures.blogspot.com/