Day 212: There Is No Time for That

Today’s Scripture: Romans 13:11-14

Central Thought: Christians must live holy lives, recognizing the Lord’s return is near.

Every so often the local news will run a story about what to do if there were a fire in your home. The story brings out that there is a very short window of opportunity for action to safely escape a house that is on fire—perhaps as short as three minutes. This is why fire safety officials urge everyone to have a plan so they know what to do if a fire were to occur.

So let’s start the clock. In the event of a fire, what would you do in the next three minutes? After you made sure that everyone was safely out of the house, what would you grab as you ran out? A computer? Photo albums? A box of important legal papers? Jewelry or other valuables? Time’s up. You probably realize now that it could be hard to decide what to take if you had not already determined what is important. How many things did you chose to leave behind, realizing that there was just not enough time to get those things out? You realized that those things were not your highest priority for the short time you had.

In Romans 13:11-14, the apostle Paul reminded us that the clock is ticking on the time left for this world. We are in the last days. While we cannot say exactly when Christ will return, we know His return is close at hand. Knowing the time is short, we most determine what is important. This passage reminds us that it is important to live for God and reject ‘the works of darkness” (verse 12). Verse 14 sums it up this way: ‘Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

You are on the clock. What will you choose as important?

Devotional Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to make living for You the most important thing in my life.

Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27; Romans 13:1-14; Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 20:11