1Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority, 4for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 5Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing. 7Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
11Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. 12The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light. 13Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
Wake Up Sleepy Head
Romans 13
Wake up Sleepy Head
11 And 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. 12 The 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. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
When I was little, my mother would come into my room and tell me to wake up and get ready for school. When I was older, I got an alarm clock to wake me up instead. It was one of those old-fashioned alarm clocks that ticked and tocked so loud I’m surprised I ever got any sleep. Then, when it went off, it was like a fire alarm in the fire station. Paul says it is time for each of us to WAKE UP. The alarm bell is ringing. It’s time to get up and get going. We are to do this because the time is short. Life is short. He analogizes the time being right to get up by saying, “The night is far spent.” That means we’re done sleeping, and it’s time to get to work. So if we’ve been awakened from our sleep (when you came to know Jesus), then what are we to do?
Paul answers that question by saying that we’re to put behind us all those works of darkness. Those are the thoughts and activities of the world. You’ve been awakened to something better than that. You will protect yourself from that foolishness by putting on a special coat of armor. It is armor made of pure light. He’ll direct you. The Psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”. Get into the word as you’re doing this minute. That’s how you’ll get the directives to “walk properly” like people do in the daytime. Paul urges the believer not to yield to the temptation of just seeing life as a big party, getting drunk or stoned, and finding ways to satisfy the desires of the flesh. That’s nighttime stuff. Walk in the light. Do daytime stuff. He says the best way to walk in the light is to “put on the Lord Jesus”.
This means that you and I are to clothe ourselves in Jesus’ character, virtues, thinking, and His righteousness. This is both in our positional righteousness, which is accomplished when we accept Him as our Savior, and in our practical righteousness when we willfully put to practice our identity in Him. This entails living our lives in a way that reflects Him working through us. It does require work on our part. But it is work that is realized and empowered by the Holy Spirit within us. It’s like my e-bike. I have to be pedaling that bike to make the motor in the back hub kick in. I do my part, but the bike's power makes the magic happen. Live in His identity today and let your light shine. Take on the mind of Christ today and be the salt to those around you.