Romans 13

Highlight:

⁸Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law . . . ¹¹And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹²The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Explain: 

In these verses Paul shows us the means of living a holy life.

1. It’s motivations are:
   1. Love – Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law . . .
   2. Promises – Our salvation is drawing near – ¹¹And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹²The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
2. It’s decisions are:
   1. Cast off the works of darkness
   2. Put on the armor of light
   3. Walk properly – Live holy, appropriate lives.
3. It’s distractions are 
   1. The desire to escape reality instead of dealing with it. (revelry and drunkenness)
   2. The desire to indulge your lust instead of controlling it (lewdness and lust)
   3. The desire to demand your rights instead of serving others (strife and envy)
4. It’s priority is: A relationship with Jesus that satisfies, not the seeking of satisfaction in fulfilling your desires.

Apply:

If I am going to live a holy life I have to have the right motivations (love and the promises of God). I also have to make the right decisions: Casting off the works of darkness, putting on the armor of God and living my life according to the Word of God. There will be distractions that my enemy will seek to use against me. He will try to get me to escape reality, indulge my wrong desires and to focus on getting from others instead of giving to others. Finally, all of this hinges on what my priority is. Will I develop a satisfying relationship with Christ or will I seek satisfaction in fulfilling my desires.

Respond

I will seek my satisfaction in my relationship with Christ today.