Listen

As you do all this, you know what time it is. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first had faith. The night is almost over, and the day is near. So let’s get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light. Let’s behave appropriately as people who live in the day, not in partying and getting drunk, not in sleeping around and obscene behavior, not in fighting and obsession. Instead, dress yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and don’t plan to indulge your selfish desires.

Romans 13:11-14

Think

Raise your hand if you enjoyed waking up this morning. Anybody? Me neither. In the dark and cold of winter, getting out of bed proves more challenging than usual. Two, three, or even four snoozes become the norm.

Paul urges the Roman church to do more than get out of bed. He’s calling them out of a stupor that keeps them from living a life marked by love. Paul knows it’s easy to get stuck in the patterns that make us forget who God created us to be. We stumble around, content to walk on the same comfortable paths. We forget we’re called to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4), a life centered on love of God and our neighbors.

Hope wakes us up. It gets us out of bed and out of the ways we’ve always done things. We claim a powerful hope, rooted in the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. We get up and live differently because we know God’s reign of justice, peace, and joy is breaking into our world.

Jennie Barber

Pray

God of new life, wake me up! When I get stuck in comfortable patterns and perceptions, set me free. When I’m tempted to hit snooze, remind me of who I am created and called to be. Amen.

Go

Watch with hope.

See today with God’s vision: catch glimmers of goodness and beauty.

Embrace today with Christ’s compassion: let others know they are deeply loved.

Walk today with the Spirit’s boldness: sing, create, serve, and play.