PUTTING ON CHRIST "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:11-14, NKJV) Devotion 12 of 33
" . . . now . . . "
One of the particular benefits of faith and spiritual understanding is that they put God into the "NOW." By that I mean they make the individual aware of God and His immediate relevance. In the human conscience, the Lord is moved from the realm of philosophy into the domain of living. That is how is ought to be, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28).
Our response to God is associated with "NOW." Obedience is connected to the "NOW." The time to serve God thus becomes "NOW."
There are things available to us "NOW" that have not always been known. Their presence defines "NOW" as a time of rich opportunity and benefit. "NOW" is a time when things can be accomplished that were not possible in prior ages.
1. "NOW" we know why the Law was given that every mouth might be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God (Rom 3:19).
2. "NOW" the righteous of God is made known "without the Law" that is, a righteousness from God is made available to men through faith (Rom 3:21).
3. "NOW" we are justified exonerated from all guilt in Christ Jesus (Rom 5:9).
4. "NOW" we have "received the atonement" experiencing reconciliation to the very God toward which we were once hostile (Rom 5:11).
5. "NOW" is the time to "yield" our capacities to the Lord as those who have been purchased and quickened (Rom 6:19).
6. "NOW" we are "ashamed" of our former way of living in which no true benefit was realized (Rom 6:21).
7. "NOW" we are "free from sin" no longer under any obligation to it or contaminated by it (Rom 6:22).
8. "NOW" we are "delivered from the Law" which formerly condemned us, but it NOW written upon our hearts (Rom 7:6).
9. "NOW" there is "no condemnation" to those who are in Christ no basis for cursing, but a reason for blessing (Rom 8:1).
10. "NOW" the God of all peace can fill us with "all joy and peace in believing" doing so righteously and effectively (Rom 15:13).
11. "NOW" the mystery hidden from the foundation of the world has been "manifested" so that we no longer are forced to live in a state of spiritual ignorance (Rom 16:26).
12. "NOW" we have received "the Spirit that is from God" the Spirit who produced liberty, and changes us from one degree of glory to another (1 Cor 2:12).
13. "NOW" we no longer "know Christ after the flesh" that is, our religion is spiritual, in which Christ is known intimately and effectively (2 Cor 5:16).
14. "NOW" is the "acceptable time," when God is receiving us that is, for the believer, this is not the time of alienation, hostility, or enmity against God (2 Cor 6:2a).
15. "NOW" is the "day of salvation," when deliverance can be realized this is the time in which deliverance is being experienced regularly and fully (2 Cor 6:2b).
16. "NOW" in Christ Jesus we have been "made nigh" that is, we are no longer living at a distance from God. He is both in our thoughts and in our hearts (Eph 2:13).
17. "NOW" we are "fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" this is the time when we belong to the family of God (Eph 2:19).
18. "NOW" we are "light in the Lord" that is, the light of God has shined upon us, and shines forth from us (Eph 5:8).
19. "NOW" we are "the sons of God" being begotten of God, we are brothers to Jesus and of all the redeemed (1 John 3:2).
It should be apparent to us that faith makes God and the things of God contemporary NOW! While faith does reach back to the death of Christ and His resurrection, its power is found in the "NOW," not the then! Faith brings the "wonderful works of God" from the past into the present, making them vibrant to our souls, and imparting resources to us. Men may speak of "historic faith," but God does not. Faith cannot live in the past. It lives in the present, with the future in view.
Our text reads "NOW." We are to awaken NOW! It demands immediate attention. It assumes there is an awareness that must both dominate and motivate us. The word "NOW" will not let us sit down, but moves us forward to action. It denotes urgency and immediacy.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to be noted in heaven as one who responds NOW!
Tomorrow: