Living Alert and Discerning
Romans 13:11-14 (ESV)
v.11 “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.”
v.12 “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
v.13 “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.”
v.14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
When Paul writes that “the day is at hand,” he’s sounding a spiritual alarm. The time for sleeping is over. The darkness of sin, apathy, and confusion must be thrown off, and it’s time to live intentionally, wearing the armor of God’s light.
The phrase “cast off” is rich in meaning. It comes from the Greek word apotithēmi, meaning “to put away or lay aside,” as one would take off dirty, worn-out clothing. Paul isn’t merely suggesting we clean up a few things—he’s urging us to decisively remove anything associated with darkness, compromise, or sin.
This same imagery is used throughout the New Testament:
Ephesians 4:22 – “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.”
Colossians 3:8 – “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
Hebrews 12:1 – “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
These verses point to a call to alertness—a life that is vigilant, discerning, and fully awake in the Spirit.
But this call isn’t just about waking up — it’s about being discerning. In a time when deception is common and truth is often twisted, the people of God must be able to recognize the difference between light and darkness, truth and error, Holy Spirit and counterfeit.
Discernment is a sign of spiritual maturity. It’s not suspicion — it’s sensitivity. And now more than ever, we need believers who are both awake and wise:
Wise to the schemes of the enemy.
Wise to the ways of God.
Wise in the decisions they make.
Today, pray for discernment. Ask God to make you alert to what’s happening spiritually, not just culturally. And if there’s anything you need to “cast off” from your life — habits, attitudes, distractions — don’t delay. The day is at hand.
Prayer Focus:
Pray that the church walks in discernment and light in a time of confusion.
Ask the Lord to help you recognize spiritual distractions and cast them off.
Pray for a renewed sense of urgency and clarity in your personal walk.
