Sunday, September 6, 2026 — Romans 13:8-14
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 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. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
The culture in which we live has become decidedly divisive. There is a tension between those who have a more accepting and inclusive view of society and those who don’t. Within that inclusive culture, people of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities have found a way to coexist. And then, there are those who have a more exclusive view of society where only certain people are accepted and acceptable. Somewhere within the lives of those living in both cultures are those who identify as Christians. There are voices on both sides which offer their opinion regarding which is truly Christian. One culture — those who are open to an accepting of an inclusive Christian lifestyle are labeled and demonized by the other exclusive side as being “woke.” They’re labeled as being too accepting and open to include others to be valued in our culture and our world.
But then we hear the word of God pleading with all of those of us who call ourselves Christian to “Wake up!” Not because we’ve been too accepting, too loving, too kind, too merciful, too forgiving, too understanding, or too inclusive, but because we have fallen asleep in our responsibility to love one another as Christ has loved us. Some of us have forgotten that “ … God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And because of that, we owe a continual debt of love to God and have failed in our ability to stay awake offering others the same grace and love that we’ve received.
God’s challenge to us is not only to wake up, but to stay “woke” loving others as Christ has love us, clothing ourselves in Christ so that those who look upon us will see living images of Christ loving others, serving others, accepting others, and showing others that the kingdom of God is not something that’s coming but it is something that is already prepared for his coming and available to those who desire to enter into it. But that only happens if and when we wake up and stay woke.
- Where have you found yourself still sleeping in your response to God’s call for us to wake up and pay the continual debt of love owed to God?
- What is needed in your life to help you to “wake up and stay woke” in order to love others more fully?
Todays Prayer
Today’s Prayer —
Merciful God, awaken within my heart the presence of Your loving Spirit. Open my eyes that I may pay the continual debt of love by welcoming and accepting others with the same grace You’ve shown me. Keep me spiritually “Woke” living in hope and faith as I await the return of my Christ. Amen.
