Wake Up

“Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.” Romans 13:11

Saturdays during the school year are rather sacred in our house. Saturday is the only day of the week that we don’t have to get up and go somewhere. So, instead of the getting-ready-for-school hustle, the kids are up in their rooms doing goodness knows what. Last I checked, Torsten was reading Dog Man to his older siblings. And I’m on the back porch, drinking coffee and writing. It’s a beautiful day, made better because it didn’t start so early.

In our section of Romans for tomorrow’s worship service, Paul tells the church that it’s time to wake up. Not to constant busyness for the sake of motion, but to the calling of the gospel. There is time for sabbath rest but there is also work to do. Set free from the Law’s demands, we are invited to lives of faith. Also in this part of the letter, Paul writes, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Wake up! Stop hurting and harming one another! Yes, our call really is that simple. It’s also quite a challenge. People sure do fail to do no wrong. But there’s good news: Today is a new day! Wake up! You are forgiven and free. Christ’s new commandment is love, and love does no wrong to a neighbor. So whatever else you have (or don’t have!) going on today, try not to hurt anyone else. To put it theologically, don’t be a jerk.

Blessed Saturday. I’m off for another cup of coffee. I have to wake up!

Be well, friends. You are loved.

God of love, your Son has fulfilled the demands of the Law on our behalf. Set free for Jesus’ sake, let us live with his love in our hearts. Lead us to seek the good of those we encounter today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: Me. Today. I just woke up.