Today's Scripture:
Romans 13:11-12 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. 12 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.
Reflect: Reflect on a story in your life that pertains to this scripture.
As we walk through this season of Advent and I reflect on these verses, I’m reminded of all the imaginative games I played as a little boy: cops and robbers…cowboys and Indians…Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader. This playing always involved putting on a “costume” and finding a “weapon.” Sometimes for Christmas or a birthday, a kid in our neighborhood hit the jackpot and received a gift that included a costume set to put on to really play the part. The goal was always to win…to defeat your friends…to stand in victory…to relish in your own glory while your friend wallowed in pretend defeat.
Read: What is this scripture telling you during this season?
Verse 11 begins with the words, “And do this,” which refers to what the Apostle Paul wrote in the previous verses. Those verses encouraged the readers to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul goes on to use a metaphor of dark-light in correspondence to the time of waking up from our sleep as the dawning hours of light appear. Christ has come…the light of the world has been born unto us and before Christ ascended to heaven, He promised to come again. We now live in this in between time in which Paul writes about using this metaphor. In the middle of verse 12, we read the word “so” which is a clue to the way we are to respond….the way of life we are to live in faith until Christ comes again. We are to love our neighbors, and to do this, we are to set aside, take off, put away…renounce those dark deeds of idolatry and injustice that hurt others. Instead, Paul states, we are to put on or clothe ourselves with the armor of light. Armor is usually thought of as a defensive barrier to protect the body from attacks in warfare. We are to have a defensive posture to the things of this dark world, but our armor is also meant to be an armor of light, which is an offensive weapon. However, it is not a weapon meant to hurt but to extend, radiate and reflect the truth, love, and grace of Christ that we have received.
Respond: How is this scripture calling you to respond?
I know it’s kind of a stretch but maybe this memory can have something to do with the way we share the good news of Jesus and our very lives with others. My prayer for me and for you is that we would use our imaginations to put on…to have an authentic and vulnerable faith. That we wouldn’t just put on a shiny armor of religiosity that makes us look good and feel good but that we would daily visualize ourselves putting on an armor that truly reflects the truth, love, and grace of Jesus in this advent of Christmas and the advent of Christ coming again. So now I invite you to pause in prayer asking God the Spirit to enable and empower you to love the people that you like and the people that aren’t like you, to love those you are tempted to treat indifferently, and to love those that you label as an enemy. Now prayerfully envision when Christ comes again, all of these people standing in the victory of Christ alongside you because each of you have received the gift of grace through faith in Christ.
About Chris French:
Amy and I moved to Houston in August 2006 with two daughters. I have been serving as an Associate Pastor with the people of Grace for 17+ years. Amy has served in a variety of roles with Grace (she is a gifted teacher and offers incredible spiritual direction), and we now have three daughters (Natalie 20, Jenna 18, and Sophia 15). Grace is our family's church home.
I have served and had leadership roles in Student Ministry, Evangelism, Outreach, Missions, Adult Discipleship, and also served in a variety of roles needed during transitions for Grace.