READING:
One-year plan: Romans 12-16
Two-year plan: Daniel 8:9-9:27, Revelation 1
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Paul and the early church so strongly believed in the soon return of Jesus that its perceived closeness affected the way they lived. Paul’s writings in Romans 13 speak of that sense of urgency – “it is already the hour for you to wake from sleep” (Rom 13:11); “now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom 13:11); “the night is nearly over, and the daylight is near” (Rom 13:12) – and the believers were to live differently in that light. They were, for example, to reject carousing and partying, walk away from sexual sin, and turn from quarreling and jealousy. Instead, they were to “put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12), an image that signifies putting on Christ and turning from darkness. Renouncing the flesh would not be easy, but believers were to make that choice as they awaited the return of their Lord.
We are now centuries away from Paul’s day, but those centuries move us only closer to Christ’s return. That reality ought to drive us to reject things that bring only temporary pleasure and focus instead on only those things that carry eternal significance. Our goal must be to be found in the process of becoming more and more like Jesus when He returns. Continually transformed into His likeness, we should then look forward with anticipation to His return.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you living with eternity in mind today?
PRAYER: “Help me to walk well in the light today, Father.”
MONDAY’S READING:
One-year plan: 1 Corinthians 1-4
Two-year plan: Daniel 10:1-11:4, Revelation 2:1-11
MEMORIZATION VERSE (November 16-30)
“So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.” (Acts 9:31)