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WAKE UP! (ROMANS 13:11-14)

“Wake up!” is the theme for our reflection. “Wake up” is a sudden call to cease sleeping. To wake up means to become aware of the truth that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Saviour and He will come back to judge the world hence we must be spiritually and morally awake or alert. In other words, we must keep watch and expectant for His advent.

Dear friend, how should we be awake and keep watch for His coming? Paul admonished us in his letter to the Romans, when he wrote, “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 armour 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. Romans 13:11-14. Dear friend Advent season offers us the opportunity to have sober reflections on our relationship with Jesus Christ and ask for strength to overcome our fleshly desire even as we remain awake and keep watch for His coming. In the 21st Century, the Advent season is taken for granted although many desire to celebrate Christmas. How do we remain awake and keep watch for His coming when our Advent season is filled with fleshly desires, our focus is mainly on what we are going to eat, drink and wear even as we commemorate the birth of Christ. If truly we understand the importance of Advent then we would be less concerned about the desires of the flesh and be more concerned about preparing ourselves morally and spiritually for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The period of Advent is not a period of excessive shopping and the euphoria about X-mass bonanzas and sales but it is rather a period of prayer, fasting, Bible Study and reflection on our salvation and relationship with God.

Beloved in the Lord, It is when we have effectively prepared spiritually during the Advent season by remaining awake and keeping watch for His coming that Christmas will be meaningful and fulfilling. Indeed we experience immeasurable joy, peace and grace when we are always awake in the Lord. Many of us ignore the Advent season which is the period of keeping watch yet we are eager to celebrate Christmas. To us, Christmas is just another celebration to have fun and make merry. Friend, shall we be found awake and keeping watch for His coming this Advent season and beyond? What will we be doing as a sign of being awake and keeping watch for His second coming?

Today is our day of salvation, Paul invites us to “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Act 16:31). Let us walk with Jesus daily by reading the Scripture and walking in His perfect example as our Lord and Saviour. Let the song ”I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back” keep playing in our minds even us we walk in His light. My dear friend in the Lord, are you spiritually, morally and physically prepared to meet the Lord? The season of Advent offers us the opportunity to reflect on our relationship with Jesus. The Advent season further enables us to consciously prepare or take steps to walk in His light and be ready to meet Him. Let us remember that the second Advent of Jesus, our Lord will mean doom for those of us who are unprepared.

In summary, we are reminded to be wide awake spiritually and morally because of the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Being awake is not an event but a daily affair. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen us to remain awake in a world full of temptations. Help us to overcome our frailties even as we walk in the light of our Lord and Master Jesus. Amen,