Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 13:10-14, Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 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. 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. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Paul reminds us that when we love God, we live out His love by loving our neighbor as ourself. We see a rising tide of evil in the world, and yet we know that we are not to be overcome evil but to overcome evil with good. We are certainly in a war, but not a war of flesh and blood, but in the spirit. “For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.” I heard today that something like sixty-six percent of Americans believe that Jesus is coming back! We, as believers, have an opportunity to tell them more about Him! We know for sure that we are one day closer to the return of Jesus. He gives us the power to gird ourselves against the enemy with the full armor of God. And He gives us the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God and prayer to go forth in His name!

Bind us up with Your spiritual armor and let us take up Your word prayerfully to see the power of Your love with our neighbors! Give us boldness as we move expectantly one day closer to Your return!

ESV Lectionary