Our scripture this morning is Romans 13:8-12.
“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 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.”
Paul summarizes the commandments about our relationships with each other as Jesus did – “love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 9). If we can keep this one greatest commandment, we can all live well. Unfortunately, we have broken this, our commitment to God and each other, since the very beginning.
Paul reminds us to “wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (v. 11). We don’t know when the day of the Lord will come, so the time to repent and live as God intends is NOW! We have His promise of eternal life, but we must uphold our part of the covenant.
We are encouraged to “remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living” (v. 12). Only through our confession of sin and acceptance of God’s forgiveness can we accomplish this. Our Heavenly Father is always ready for us to return to Him in love.
Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we rebel against Your love, wanting our own way. Help us to find the joy that only a relationship with You can give, and to share that blessing with everyone. Amen.