Unashamed Reading Plan
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 15 | Day 2
Prayer
Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Thank God for time to spend with Him and ask Him to meet with you.
Bible Reading: Romans 13:11-14
Read these verses three times slowly.
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. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Reflection & Questions
Yesterday, we read that we are to love one another. Paul carries that theme into these verses, saying that we are to love, “understanding the present time.” Paul wants us to know how close salvation is. It is easy in these days of division and evil to grow weary in loving others. We can easily isolate ourselves in our cocoon of safety and comfort. But these are not days to isolate. These are days to be on mission for Jesus! Paul tells us not to sleep in the darkness of this world, nor to engage in deeds of darkness (like immorality, jealousy, gossip, etc). We know we need to wake up and see that the race has an end point. The finish line is very close. Run the race well to the end! Love to the end.
- What word or phrase from these verses stick out to you today? Why?
- Do you feel the temptation these days to withdraw from society into comfort and safety? How do Paul’s words challenge and encourage you today?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading: Romans 13:11-14
Read these verses three times slowly.
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…Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Reflection & Questions
Yesterday we talked about loving others. But that’s not always easy to do, is it? There are people who frustrate us, others who are maybe a little weird or different, and some who are just plain mean. It would be easier if we hung out with people who were just like us, wouldn’t it?
But Paul says that now is the time that we should be on a mission for Jesus! We don’t know exactly when He is coming back but we do know that each day is one day closer to when we will meet Him. So what should we be doing with our time?
We should be lights to those around us! That means we need to figure out how to shine Jesus’ love to others, even if they are a little different or tough to be around. This means finding ways to be kind and thoughtful and maybe even invite them to church!
- Are there people who you find are difficult to love? Can you think of a way that you can show love to them?
Pray
Ask God to help you find ways to be kind to everyone around you, even the tough people.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
