By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Romans 13:11-13 “And 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. The 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. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.”
Sleep is a picture of rest, inactivity, passiveness or not being alert. It is associated with night or a period when evil is common and has overtaken many. Paul urged the believers to wake up from insensitivity so that they understand the times. He associates sleep with deeds of darkness. So if anyone who is a believer is still involved in deeds of darkness, he is in slumber.
We are children of the day, of light and not of darkness. Those who sleep do so at night. The believer’s meddling with the works of the flesh as mentioned in verse 13 are in slumber. But putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and not gratifying the acts of the flesh, is being awake and walking in the light.
God asks those called by His name to awake by doing away with works of darkness. When in slumber, one cannot discern the times, especially how near the coming of the Lord is. Paul said we are not of the night so that that day will take us unawares. But we are children of the day; sober and alert, and that His coming will not be a surprise. Let’s heed God’s warning call and awake if any has gotten to slumber.
Romans 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”
Shalom children of God. Blessed week