Corona Devo 1057

I guess God knew that if He wanted to catch my eye (and my heart) in a Bible verse, He would have to put it in language that I understand.  And if there's something I understand...it's dirty clothes.  I don't want them on.

One of our children had reflux as a baby and he was always spitting up.  Bibs, onesies, crib sheets and especially momma's shirts were immediately thrown in the wash when they were spit-up on, because who wants to wear dirty clothes?  They are stinky, yucky, and unbecoming.

Even now, (our kids are not babies), but there are lots of dirty clothes.  And the first thing that they want to do when they come home from practice, a work-out, or a game is to shower and change, because who wants to wear dirty clothes?  They are stinky, yucky, and unbecoming.

And so...leave it to the Lord to make His Word real, and to drive-home-His-point about our sin and dark deeds by comparing them to dirty clothes.  

That got my attention in the Bible today: So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living (Romans 13:12).  

But, even deeper was what I felt God calling-us-out-on as I read in between the lines of Romans 13.

"Big-time" sins are listed (“You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal.  You must not covet.” ~Romans 13:9), and it is almost like God is accepting/verbalizing that we (probably) won't perpetrate ourselves with those today, but every sin is a "big-time" sin to our Lord.  

God knows what dirty clothes we are donning today.  What is soiling our spiritual growth?  What is staining our reflection of Jesus to others?  What is stinky, yucky, and unbecoming about us?

The thoughts, judgements, reactions, retorts and responses that come from our mouths...but (more importantly) that have bubbled up from our hearts--these are my dirty clothes.   And I don't want them on.  

Our lack of love.  

Not outward, superficial love--that we can often exude and protrude without effort or investment.  But what about those that we do need to invest love into?  Are we?

I'm not doing it well.  Sometimes my "love" is downright stinky, yucky, and unbecoming.  God is using His Word today to tell me to remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living (Romans 13:12).

I know you're right, Father.  You always are.

And (God reminds us) that the clock is ticking on our timespan for loving others.  Kids will not always be kids.  Spouses cannot be taken for granted.  Parents and relatives do not live forever and everyone needs to be loved.  Let's take off our dirty clothes: time is running out.  

~~~

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. (9) For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”

These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (10) Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. 

(11) This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 

(12) The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living...

(14) Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.   ~Romans 13:8-12, 14

~~~

For me (and maybe you, too), it's time to Wake up.   Time is running out, and our only assignment is to love one another.  

If any of our recent efforts can be compared to dirty clothes, then today (now!)--Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).   

If there is something that we all understand...it's dirty clothes.  And, we don't want them on.

May we be clothed-in-Christ instead today.  It's urgent. 


Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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