Romans 13:11-14

“Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy.” vss. 12b-13

There’s a reason parents worry when their children miss their nightly curfews. Despite what their teens might say, there’s not much good that can happen after midnight! Darkness has a way of loosening moral convictions and increasing mayhem. And that’s the way it’s always been. Even Paul talks about this reality as he closes his letter to the Romans.

And it’s not only teens who are affected. Without the sun to guide our ways all of us find it easier to wander when darkness becomes our companion. We do and say things in the dark that we wouldn’t dream of saying or doing in the light. 

Now, this isn’t a matter of our salvation. We are loved by God 24/7 and just because our inhibitions sometimes leave us in the darkness, those behaviors can never separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus. But the results of those uninhibited words and actions can and do wreak havoc with our closest relationships and undermine our witness. What we do and say does make a difference, and licentious living will ultimately destroy any serenity we could ever hope to have. 

The antidote to such carelessness is simple. Walk in the Light and we will never go astray!

Thought for the Day: Why do we lose inhibitions in the darkness?