by Julia M. Bruce, MSPC, Mental Health Coach, Keynote Speaker, CEO, Wellspring Christian Ministries
Week 1 of Advent: Time to Wake Up
Today as we consider what it means to prepare for the second coming of Christ, we want to examine the impact of a lost world trapped in the darkness of sin and that part of preparing for Christ’s coming again is to bring the light of the world into the darkness – because dawn is coming – the moment when Jesus steps out of the realms of heaven and calls His children home. We should not only be preparing ourselves for the moment we meet Jesus, but also those who do not yet know him. Night is nearly over where the darkness of the world rules. Dawn is coming where light dispels the darkness. And yet millions are still trapped in the darkness of their sins. It’s time for us to wake up and start sharing the gospel message to those who are lost. Paul wrote to the church in Rome:
Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires. –Romans 13:11-14
Morning person or Night owl?
Do you consider yourself a morning person or a night person? I am definitely a night owl. In fact, when Brian asked me to marry him I tried to warn him. I told him he needed to know two things about me before he thought he wanted to marry me: I’m expensive and I don’t do mornings. He found both were true very quickly. I have three alarms set on my phone because I know I will ignore the first two, pull the covers up over my head, and go back to sleep. On the other hand, I have a niece who has always been a morning person. If the sun is up even just a peek then she is wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to go. Bless her heart.
I know me well enough to know not to schedule complex or difficult task in the morning hours if at all possible. Naturally, I can’t always save them for later in the day, but I know I will be much more successful with those kind of tasks after I’ve been up a while and had some caffeine. It’s just that my brain isn’t on the same rotation schedule as the sun and it lags a few hours behind. Once I get going, I’m full steam ahead.
Paul calls Christians to be “Morning people”
Most of us know when our most productive time of the day is and if you’ve done any training in time management, then you’ve been taught to schedule your complex and difficult tasks during your peak performance times slots as much as possible. In Romans 13, Paul says that Christians are “morning people” (doesn’t God have a great sense of humor?). As a child of God, I shouldn’t need a few hours to get going in living my spiritual life.
Paul says the time is “just before dawn”
Paul says that the time is just before dawn. Can you hear the urgency in his writing of Romans 13:11-14? The darkness of night battles with the beginning rays of the sun – fighting to continue covering the earth in it’s inky blackness of sin. But as the sun rises, darkness is defeated. As the sun comes up, we get a new start to a new day, another opportunity to serve God with the gifts and talents He has given us. It’s another day to tell the good news of His birth and what Christ has done for you. It’s another opportunity for the lost person to come to the Light of the World, but that lost person is dependent on us to bring them to the Savior.
As a Christian, we need to spiritually wake up
But, many Christians live – well – basically like me in the morning. Grumpy, not focused, slow, just longing to pull the covers up over my head for another 30 minutes. When we look around our world today, it’s easy to see that Christians have been asleep for far too long. The moral decay is putrefying our world. We have sat back and allowed prayer to be removed from schools, for marriage to be redefined, to allow abortions to be legal, and to even define gender as each individual chooses. Murder, violence, and crime is at alarming rates. Humanity is tainted with greed and selfishness. Anger and bitterness is in abundance. Crime rates are always higher at night because the darkness of night helps to hide their actions. And Christians seem to be sleeping through it all.
Wake up! Disregard the deeds of darkness
Paul calls for Christians to wake up. He tells us to discard the deeds of darkness. Paul lists six “deeds of darkness” that we are to discard: carousing, drunkenness, sexual impurity, promiscuity, quarreling, and jealousy. Why does Paul call them deeds of darkness? If you think about each one of them, they are most often done in the hours of darkness. Sin is most prominent in the dark, because it is easier to hide it. It’s harder to be seen. But when sin is brought into the light, it is there for all to see.
Wake up! You’re the light the word needs
In Matthew 5:14-15, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
As Paul pointed out the deeds of darkness, the opposite of dark is light. Where there is light, it is impossible to have dark. The two cannot exist in the same space. This world lost in the darkness of sin needs the Light of Jesus that shines through us (Christians) if it is to find its way out of darkness.
Wake up! Stop living like the world
As Christians, we are to be set apart from the world – consecrated to God. The world should look at us and see something different. If we are living like the world, they will never see Christ in us. If they see nothing different about us, why would they need a Savior? Wake up. Discard the deeds of darkness.
Wake up and get dressed
Once we wake up, it’s time to get dressed and start our day. Paul calls for Christians to put on the armor of light and to walk with decency, as in the daylight. In John 8:12, Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” Paul also tells us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” If we have put on the Light of the World, then His light should radiate around us bringing light to the darkness of the world and chasing the darkness away – just as the sun chases away the night every morning.
Wake up and put on Christ
Over in Galatians 3:27, Paul wrote, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” But what does it mean to “put on” a person? It’s a theatrical term that refers to playing the role of a character in such a way that you lose your own identity and become the identity of the person you are portraying. You are so intensely caught up in being the other person that your own identity almost ceases to be and instead you live and breathe the person of your role and your identity becomes that of the character role you are portraying.
So if we have put on the armor of Light and Jesus is the Light of the World, and Paul tells us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, then the child of God’s identity becomes the identity of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:53 says, “This perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the moral puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.” The lost person’s victory over death is dependent on us.
What is the armor of light?
But why does Paul use the word armor? First, armor is protective. When Satan hurls the fiery darts of sin and temptation our way, we are able to deflect them with the proper armor so that we have nothing to hide. And when there is nothing to hide, we don’t have to worry about the light revealing our motives and actions. When we put on the armor of light, we are to satisfy God’s will for us rather than satisfying our own desires. When we put on the armor of light, we are alert to what God is doing in this world and we will be alert to those whom He puts in our path to be a witness to.
We need to live with the revealing light of God shining brightly on our thoughts, motives, behaviors, words, attitudes, and lifestyles so that there is no darkness in us. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” The antithesis to this verse would be that if we walk in darkness then we do not have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus does not cleans us from sin.
Wake up! We’re in a Spiritual Battle
Armor is also used in battle and as Christians, we are constantly in a spiritual battle. It’s almost dawn and we’re in deep sleep but the bugler sounds Reveille to muster God’s soldiers for roll call. Suddenly we are awake and we look around the military encampment. Everyone is scurrying around getting ready for battle. The soldiers are putting on their armor and gathering their weapons.
Who’s the enemy? Satan and his demons. In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul tells us our enemy is not flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, rulers, authorities, world powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. We are constantly right smack in the middle of conflict so we need to put on the armor of light. If we are going to stand and fight, than we need to be ready. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13-17 about the armor we need to put on:
This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. (Ephesians 6:13-17)
Wake up. Get dressed. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light. Put on the full armor of God.
The darker it gets, the closer we are to dawn
Our world today, and in Paul’s day, is still dark. The battle still rages – and fiercer than ever. But that’s how night works. Each hour is darker than the one before it but then dawn comes and a ray of light peeks through the darkness bringing light to the world. Our dawn will come will Jesus comes again. The thing about darkness and dawn is that the darker it gets, the closer we are to dawn. Paul says that we know the time — it’s time for us to Wake up. Get dressed. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light. Put on the full armor of God. Bring the Light into the world.
What happens at dawn?
The dawning of a new day is coming when Christ will return triumphantly. What does that mean for those trapped in the darkness of the sin and the world? They have hopelessly lost their way in the darkness of sin with nothing but eternal separation from God and eternity in Hell awaiting them. Their souls hunger for Bread of Life. They are desperate for the Living Water. They need the precious Redeemer and Friend to rescue their soul. The lost need to meet the Resurrection and the Life. They need to find the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
It’s urgent that we act now! So, yes! Wake up, dear Christian. The bugler is sounding Reveille. God is calling us to battle. Put on the armor of light and the Lord Jesus Christ. The battle becomes fiercer as the night gets darker. Those lost in their sin are eternally dependent on us to show them the light.
Wake up. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light. Put on the full armor of God. Bring the Light into the world. Stop sleeping, O Christian! The dawn is coming.
Please share today’s Devotion to your social media accounts. We’re using the following hashtags: #1stweekinAdvent #Advent #preparing #secondcoming #Wakeup #putonthearmoroflight #WCM
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Today as we consider what it means to prepare for the second coming of Christ, we want to examine the impact of a lost world trapped in the darkness of sin and that part of preparing for Christ’s coming again is to bring the light of the world into the darkness – because dawn is coming – the moment when Jesus steps out of the realms of heaven and calls His children home. We should not only be preparing ourselves for the moment we meet Jesus, but also those who do not yet know him. Night is nearly over where the darkness of the world rules. Dawn is coming where light dispels the darkness. And yet millions are still trapped in the darkness of their sins. It’s time for us to wake up and start sharing the gospel message to those who are lost. Paul wrote to the church in Rome:
Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires. –Romans 13:11-14
Morning person or Night owl?
Do you consider yourself a morning person or a night person? I am definitely a night owl. In fact, when Brian asked me to marry him I tried to warn him. I told him he needed to know two things about me before he thought he wanted to marry me: I’m expensive and I don’t do mornings. He found both were true very quickly. I have three alarms set on my phone because I know I will ignore the first two, pull the covers up over my head, and go back to sleep. On the other hand, I have a niece who has always been a morning person. If the sun is up even just a peek then she is wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to go. Bless her heart.
I know me well enough to know not to schedule complex or difficult task in the morning hours if at all possible. Naturally, I can’t always save them for later in the day, but I know I will be much more successful with those kind of tasks after I’ve been up a while and had some caffeine. It’s just that my brain isn’t on the same rotation schedule as the sun and it lags a few hours behind. Once I get going, I’m full steam ahead.
Paul calls Christians to be “Morning people”
Most of us know when our most productive time of the day is and if you’ve done any training in time management, then you’ve been taught to schedule your complex and difficult tasks during your peak performance times slots as much as possible. In Romans 13, Paul says that Christians are “morning people” (doesn’t God have a great sense of humor?). As a child of God, I shouldn’t need a few hours to get going in living my spiritual life.
Paul says the time is “just before dawn”
Paul says that the time is just before dawn. Can you hear the urgency in his writing of Romans 13:11-14? The darkness of night battles with the beginning rays of the sun – fighting to continue covering the earth in it’s inky blackness of sin. But as the sun rises, darkness is defeated. As the sun comes up, we get a new start to a new day, another opportunity to serve God with the gifts and talents He has given us. It’s another day to tell the good news of His birth and what Christ has done for you. It’s another opportunity for the lost person to come to the Light of the World, but that lost person is dependent on us to bring them to the Savior.
As a Christian, we need to spiritually wake up
But, many Christians live – well – basically like me in the morning. Grumpy, not focused, slow, just longing to pull the covers up over my head for another 30 minutes. When we look around our world today, it’s easy to see that Christians have been asleep for far too long. The moral decay is putrefying our world. We have sat back and allowed prayer to be removed from schools, for marriage to be redefined, to allow abortions to be legal, and to even define gender as each individual chooses. Murder, violence, and crime is at alarming rates. Humanity is tainted with greed and selfishness. Anger and bitterness is in abundance. Crime rates are always higher at night because the darkness of night helps to hide their actions. And Christians seem to be sleeping through it all.
Wake up! Disregard the deeds of darkness
Paul calls for Christians to wake up. He tells us to discard the deeds of darkness. Paul lists six “deeds of darkness” that we are to discard: carousing, drunkenness, sexual impurity, promiscuity, quarreling, and jealousy. Why does Paul call them deeds of darkness? If you think about each one of them, they are most often done in the hours of darkness. Sin is most prominent in the dark, because it is easier to hide it. It’s harder to be seen. But when sin is brought into the light, it is there for all to see.
Wake up! You’re the light the word needs
In Matthew 5:14-15, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
As Paul pointed out the deeds of darkness, the opposite of dark is light. Where there is light, it is impossible to have dark. The two cannot exist in the same space. This world lost in the darkness of sin needs the Light of Jesus that shines through us (Christians) if it is to find its way out of darkness.
Wake up! Stop living like the world
As Christians, we are to be set apart from the world – consecrated to God. The world should look at us and see something different. If we are living like the world, they will never see Christ in us. If they see nothing different about us, why would they need a Savior? Wake up. Discard the deeds of darkness.
Wake up and get dressed
Once we wake up, it’s time to get dressed and start our day. Paul calls for Christians to put on the armor of light and to walk with decency, as in the daylight. In John 8:12, Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” Paul also tells us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” If we have put on the Light of the World, then His light should radiate around us bringing light to the darkness of the world and chasing the darkness away – just as the sun chases away the night every morning.
Wake up and put on Christ
Over in Galatians 3:27, Paul wrote, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” But what does it mean to “put on” a person? It’s a theatrical term that refers to playing the role of a character in such a way that you lose your own identity and become the identity of the person you are portraying. You are so intensely caught up in being the other person that your own identity almost ceases to be and instead you live and breathe the person of your role and your identity becomes that of the character role you are portraying.
So if we have put on the armor of Light and Jesus is the Light of the World, and Paul tells us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, then the child of God’s identity becomes the identity of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:53 says, “This perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the moral puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.” The lost person’s victory over death is dependent on us.
What is the armor of light?
But why does Paul use the word armor? First, armor is protective. When Satan hurls the fiery darts of sin and temptation our way, we are able to deflect them with the proper armor so that we have nothing to hide. And when there is nothing to hide, we don’t have to worry about the light revealing our motives and actions. When we put on the armor of light, we are to satisfy God’s will for us rather than satisfying our own desires. When we put on the armor of light, we are alert to what God is doing in this world and we will be alert to those whom He puts in our path to be a witness to.
We need to live with the revealing light of God shining brightly on our thoughts, motives, behaviors, words, attitudes, and lifestyles so that there is no darkness in us. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” The antithesis to this verse would be that if we walk in darkness then we do not have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus does not cleans us from sin.
Wake up! We’re in a Spiritual Battle
Armor is also used in battle and as Christians, we are constantly in a spiritual battle. It’s almost dawn and we’re in deep sleep but the bugler sounds Reveille to muster God’s soldiers for roll call. Suddenly we are awake and we look around the military encampment. Everyone is scurrying around getting ready for battle. The soldiers are putting on their armor and gathering their weapons.
Who’s the enemy? Satan and his demons. In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul tells us our enemy is not flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, rulers, authorities, world powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. We are constantly right smack in the middle of conflict so we need to put on the armor of light. If we are going to stand and fight, than we need to be ready. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13-17 about the armor we need to put on:
This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. (Ephesians 6:13-17)
Wake up. Get dressed. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light. Put on the full armor of God.
The darker it gets, the closer we are to dawn
Our world today, and in Paul’s day, is still dark. The battle still rages – and fiercer than ever. But that’s how night works. Each hour is darker than the one before it but then dawn comes and a ray of light peeks through the darkness bringing light to the world. Our dawn will come will Jesus comes again. The thing about darkness and dawn is that the darker it gets, the closer we are to dawn. Paul says that we know the time — it’s time for us to Wake up. Get dressed. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light. Put on the full armor of God. Bring the Light into the world.
What happens at dawn?
The dawning of a new day is coming when Christ will return triumphantly. What does that mean for those trapped in the darkness of the sin and the world? They have hopelessly lost their way in the darkness of sin with nothing but eternal separation from God and eternity in Hell awaiting them. Their souls hunger for Bread of Life. They are desperate for the Living Water. They need the precious Redeemer and Friend to rescue their soul. The lost need to meet the Resurrection and the Life. They need to find the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
It’s urgent that we act now! So, yes! Wake up, dear Christian. The bugler is sounding Reveille. God is calling us to battle. Put on the armor of light and the Lord Jesus Christ. The battle becomes fiercer as the night gets darker. Those lost in their sin are eternally dependent on us to show them the light.
Wake up. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light. Put on the full armor of God. Bring the Light into the world. Stop sleeping, O Christian! The dawn is coming.
Please share today’s Devotion to your social media accounts. We’re using the following hashtags: #1stweekinAdvent #Advent #preparing #secondcoming #Wakeup #putonthearmoroflight #WCM
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This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
Conversation Starters.
Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
Romance Builders.
Relationship Builders.
Personal reflections.
Date ideas.
Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.
Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.Â
Today as we consider during this first week of Advent what it means to prepare for the second coming of Christ, and Romans 13:11-14, we want to examine the impact of a lost world trapped in the darkness of sin and that part of preparing for Christ’s coming again is to bring the light of the world into the darkness – because dawn is coming – the moment when Jesus steps out of the realms of heaven and calls His children home. We should not only be preparing ourselves for the moment we meet Jesus, but also those who do not yet know him. Night is nearly over where the darkness of the world rules. Dawn is coming where light dispels the darkness. And yet millions are still trapped in the darkness of their sins.
Do you consider yourself a morning person or a night person? I am definitely a night owl. In fact, when Brian asked me to marry him I tried to warn him. I told him he needed to know two things about me before he thought he wanted to marry me: I’m expensive and I don’t do mornings. He found both were true very quickly. I have three alarms set on my phone because I know I will ignore the first two, pull the covers up over my head, and go back to sleep. On the other hand, I have a niece who has always been a morning person. If the sun is up even just a peek then she is wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to go. Bless her heart.
I know me well enough to know not to schedule complex or difficult task in the morning hours if at all possible. Naturally, I can’t always save them for later in the day, but I know I will be much more successful with those kind of tasks after I’ve been up a while. It’s just that my brain isn’t on the same rotation schedule as the sun and it lags a few hours behind. Once I get going, I’m full steam ahead.
Most of us know when our most productive time of the day is and if you’ve done any training in time management, then you’ve been taught to schedule your complex and difficult tasks during your peak performance times slots as much as possible. In Romans 13, Paul says that Christians are “morning people” (doesn’t God have a great sense of humor?). As a child of God, I shouldn’t need a few hours to get going in living my spiritual life. Paul says that the time is just before dawn. Can you hear the urgency in his writing of Romans 13:11-14? The darkness of night battles with the beginning rays of the sun – fighting to continue covering the earth in it’s inky blackness of sin. But as the sun rises, darkness is defeated. As the sun comes up, we get a new start to a new day, another opportunity to serve God with the gifts and talents He has given us. It’s another day to tell the good news of His birth and what Christ has done for you. It’s another opportunity for the lost person to come to the Light of the World, but that lost person is dependent on us to bring them to the Savior.
But, many Christians live – well – basically like me in the morning. Grumpy, not focused, slow, just longing to pull the covers up over my head for another 30 minutes. When we look around our world today, it’s easy to see that Christians have been asleep for far too long. The moral decay is putrefying our world. We have sat back and allowed prayer to be removed from schools, for marriage to be redefined, to allow abortions to be legal, and to even define gender as each individual chooses. Murder, violence, and crime is at alarming rates. Humanity is tainted with greed and selfishness. Anger and bitterness is in abundance. Crime rates are always higher at night because the darkness of night helps to hide their actions. And Christians seem to be sleeping through it all. Paul calls for Christians to wake up. He tells us to discard the deeds of darkness. Paul lists six “deeds of darkness” that we are to discard: carousing, drunkenness, sexual impurity, promiscuity, quarreling, and jealousy. If we are living like the world, they will never see Christ in us. If they see nothing different about us, why would they need a Savior? Wake up. Discard the deeds of darkness.
Once we wake up, it’s time to get dressed and start our day. Paul calls for Christians to put on the armor of light and to walk with decency, as in the daylight. In John 8:12, Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” Paul also tells us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” If we have put on the Light of the World, then His light should radiate around us bringing light to the darkness of the world and chasing the darkness away – just as the sun chases away the night every morning. In Matthew 5:14-15, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Over in Galatians 3:27, Paul wrote, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” But what does it mean to “put on” a person? It’s a theatrical term that refers to playing the role of a character in such a way that you lose your own identity and become the identity of the person you are portraying. You are so intensely caught up in being the other person that your own identity almost ceases to be and instead you live and breathe the person of your role and your identity becomes that of the character role you are portraying. So if we have put on the armor of Light and Jesus is the Light of the World, and Paul tells us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, then the child of God’s identity becomes the identity of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:53 says, “This perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the moral puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.” The lost person’s victory over death is dependent on us.
Wake up. Get dressed. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine.Â
But why does Paul use the word armor? First, armor is protective. When Satan hurls the fiery darts of sin and temptation our way, we are able to deflect them with the proper armor so that we have nothing to hide. When there is nothing to hide, we don’t have to worry about the light revealing our motives and actions. When we put on the armor of light, we are to satisfy God’s will for us rather than satisfying our own desires. When we put on the armor of light, we are alert to what God is doing in this world and we will be alert to those whom He puts in our path to be a witness to. We need to live with the revealing light of God shining brightly on our thoughts, motives, behaviors, words, attitudes, and lifestyles so that there is no darkness in us. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” The antithesis to this verse would be that if we walk in darkness then we do not have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus does not cleans us from sin.
Wake up. Get dressed. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light.
Armor is also used in battle and as Christians, we are constantly in a spiritual battle. It’s almost dawn and we’re in deep sleep but the bugler sounds Reveille to muster God’s soldiers for roll call. Suddenly we are awake and we look around the military encampment. Everyone is scurrying around getting ready for battle. The soldiers are putting on their armor and gathering their weapons. Who’s the enemy? Satan and his demons. In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul tells us our enemy is not flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, rulers, authorities, world powers of darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. We are constantly right smack in the middle of conflict so we need to put on the armor of light. If we are going to stand and fight, than we need to be ready. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13-17 about the armor we need to put on:
This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. (Ephesians 6:13-17)
Wake up. Get dressed. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light. Put on the full armor of God.Â
Our world today, and in Paul’s day, is still dark. The battle still rages – and fiercer than ever. But that’s how night works. Each hour is darker than the one before it but then dawn comes and a ray of light peeks through the darkness bringing light to the world. Our dawn will come will Jesus comes again. The thing about darkness and dawn is that the darker it gets, the closer we are to dawn. Paul says that we know the time — it’s time for us to Wake up. Get dressed. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light. Put on the full armor of God. Bring the Light into the world.
The dawning of a new day is coming when Christ will return triumphantly. What does that mean for those trapped in the darkness of the sin and the world? They have hopelessly lost their way in the darkness of sin with nothing but eternal separation from God and eternity in Hell awaiting them. Their souls hunger for Bread of Life. They are desperate for the Living Water. They need the precious Redeemer and Friend to rescue their soul. They need to meet the Resurrection and the Life. They need to find the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It’s urgent that we act now! So, yes! Wake up, dear Christian. The bugler is sounding Reveille. God is calling us to battle. Put on the armor of light and the Lord Jesus Christ. The battle becomes fiercer as the night gets darker. Those lost in their sin are eternally dependent on us to show them the light.
Wake up. Discard the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light. Walk in decency as in the daylight. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your light shine. Walk in the light. Put on the full armor of God. Bring the Light into the world. Stop sleeping, O Christian! The dawn is coming.Â
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Also be sure to check our the great fall items below in our Spreadshop store and at Christian Book Distributors. Scroll down to see these great fall items below in the news and events section.
We hope you have a holly, jolly Christmas this year – and to help you celebrate, here is the another one of our Christmas designs:
Christmas trees in red buffalo plaid, reindeer pattern, and red/gray/white plaid with message of “Merry Christmas.”
This design comes in men’s, ladies’, kids’, and infants’ in tees, long-sleeved tees, sweatshirts, and hoodies. There are also several accessories, including mugs, bags, pillow covers, and more. Visit the stores to see all the options. Remember Spreadshirt’s 15% off all products ends December 1.Â
Do you like this design? If so, please share this page to your social media using the links at the top of the page so others can find it too.Â
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Here’s a sample of all the Christmas designs.
Spreadshop promotion: 15% off everything from November 29-December 1
Teespring promotion: up to 20% of everything from November 29 – December 4
All proceeds go to the advancement of Wellspring Christian Ministries.
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BOOKING NOW! Be a host site for the NEW God, Love & Marshmallow Wars Book Tour & Couples Conference:
This event helps couples understand why the daily activities found in the book will equip them to build a stronger marriage and the book provides them with 365 intentional activities to take what they learn at the event and apply it on a daily basis. Through the event, couples will discover the Biblical “why” behind the categories of activities found in the book and the “how” these activities are important to building a stronger marriage. Focus points of the event includes :
Howmemorizing scripture together and studying God’s Word together as they study, meditate and apply scriptures related to marriage and life issues will help them develop marriages that honor God.
Why utilizing fun conversation starters that spark meaningful conversations will keep interest alive as they continually learn new things about each other.
Whykeeping romance alive is essential to intimacy and connectivity.
Howmaking memories and working together builds relationship investment bonds and howthese investment bonds can become the knots that keeps them together through the tough times.
Howthey can understand what they are or are not contributing to the marriage as well as howthey might be contributing to problems or potential problems within the relationship through the use of targeted, intentional personal reflections
Whyit is important that couples never stop dating and howgroup dates with Christian friends can be both an encouragement and accountability to their own relationship.
During the event, couples will be given an activity from each focus point to do together, making this event an interactive, fun, and engaging event with practical, hands-on learning. Unlike other couple events that are over when the event ends, couples who attend the GLMW event will be able to apply what they learn when utilizing the book on a daily basis for a year. Since the book is not dated, couples are able to reuse the activities year after year to continue being intentional in strengthening their relationship with each other and with God as they strive to live out God’s design for marriage every day.
Learn more about hosting this event at your church or conference site by clicking here.
About the book: The GLMW book contains 365 daily challenges for couples to strengthen their relationships to each other and with God. Couples will complete activities such as Scripture memory, conversation starters, relationship builders, learning about Biblical marriage, romance builders, personal reflections, and date ideas. Click here to purchase your copy. (This link will open a new widow and take you to Westbow Press’ bookstore.) It is also available at Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble
Looking for a keynote speaker for your next ministry event? Julia is now booking for 2019 and 2020 Christian events for women’s and couples’ ministries for both small and large events. Book with us now.
Julia is CEO of Wellspring Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people and couples develop a passionate relationship with God. A public speaker, conference trainer, event planner, and blog writer, Julia is a two-time graduate from Grand Canyon University with a bachelor in Psychology and a masters in Professional Counseling. Saved as a child and raised in church and in a Christian home and private Christian School as a Pastor’s kid, Julia has taught Sunday school, led music, played the piano, served as Children’s Director, and engaged her gifts in many other areas of church life. Previously employed with the Florida Baptist Convention, Julia organized events and led conferences for church ministry assistants. Today, Julia enjoys sharing her journey as a growing Christian with others looking for a deeper connection with God. Through Bible study and her own life experiences, God has given Julia a passion to help couples understand God’s design for marriage while they learn to place God first in their marriage, cultivate meaningful relationships, build intimacy, and address the tougher issues that come in every marriage so that they can experience a marriage that honors and glorifies God. Julia also loves mentoring, teaching, and working with women to help them learn to live as Godly women.
With her history and experience growing up in both small and large churches, Julia enjoys bringing top level quality events to churches of all sizes. Her father largely pastored small churches and therefore she understands that these vital parts of the believing community need to be good stewards of the resources God provides them with. This knowledge inspires her passion for being available with a fresh perspective for those who want to provide their congregations with meaningful spiritual growth opportunities, regardless of size.
Here are a sample of items from CBD. We are an affiliate of CBD and receive an 8% commission on any product you purchase through these links which we then use to advance our ministry. If you need a Christian gift or looking for Christian Christmas decorations, go to CBD through any link below and search their website for books, Bibles, gifts, decor, and more.
Ever wonder what could happen this Christmas if you were truly centered on Christ’s coming? Immerse yourself in this series of devotional readings to help fix your heart on the Savior. Encounter joy as the real reason for the hope within us that comes to fruition, and celebrate his birth anew! Reflection questions included. 127 pages, 4″ x 6.25″ softcover from New Hope.
Who was in the manger that first Christmas morning? Some say he would become a great moral leader. Others, a social critic. Still others view Jesus as a profound philosopher, a rabbi, a feminist, a prophet, and more. Many are convinced he was the divine Son of God.
Who was he really? And how can you know for sure?
Consulting experts on the Bible, archaeology, and messianic prophecy, award-winning legal journalist Lee Strobel searches out the true identity of the child in the manger. If Jesus really was God in the flesh, then there ought to be credible evidence, including:
Eyewitness Evidence – Can the biographies of Jesus be trusted?
Scientific Evidence – What does archaeology reveal?
Profile Evidence – Did Jesus fulfill the attributes of God?
Fingerprint Evidence – Did Jesus uniquely match the identity of the Messiah?
The Case for Christmas invites readers to consider why Christmas matters in the first place. Somewhere beyond the traditions of the holiday lies the truth. This little book is perfect as a gift or for use in ministry during the Christmas season or any other time of the year.
The Baxters always spend Christmas together. Each family member struggles with their father’s decision to invite the new owner of their sister’s heart to such a joyous occasion. They may miss out if they choose not to go. Forgiveness doesn’t come easy when it’s yourself you must forgive.
A single mom, Maggie tries to balance devotion to her son, Jordan, with her career. Then she meets Casey, a tutor who’s becoming more of a father figure to Jordan. With the help of faith and fate, will Maggie discover that anything is possible at Christmas—even finding happiness and love again? Based on the novel by Karen Kingsbury. English subtitles. Closed-captioned. Approx. 85 minutes.
Traditional and elegant Real Life Nativity Complete set is truly lifelike in color, design, facial expression, and detail. Set includes 15 figures and lighted stable; figures range to 10.25″ tall.Mary kneels in loving adoration beside the Christ child and Joseph’s expression reflects love and joy. The baby Jesus can be held in Mary’s arms or swaddled in the manger. Kneeling Mary figure is 6″ tall; manger is 2.5″ high and baby Jesus figure is 2.75″ long.
Also included: shepherds and angel three-piece set, three kings with gifts of gold,frankincense, and myrrh; pedestal star; four animalsand lighted stable in which to display the Nativity Scene.
Crafted of resin, museum quality, heirloom nativity set in representation of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Foundations Collection by Karen Hahn Nativity Set with light-up stable and seven figures. The snow-trimmed roof of the stable is inscribed with Bible verse quote For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.Each figurine is inscribed with Bible verses of the Christmas story from the gospels.
Nativity Set 11 pieces, cast in resin, ranging to 5″ high.What makes this unique?
Full color figures; rich detail on all garments and accessories; each piece is coated with a permanent sparkle frost finish.
Set includes Holy Family, angel, three kings with gifts, and shepherd with sheep, plus three animals.
In the joy of holiday celebrations and family get-togethers, it’s easy to overlook the true meaning of our Christmas. The nativity set turns us to the arrival of the promised Savior, the Messiah, Emmanuel. God with us. In vivid imagery and detail, we see the Christ child in a stable, the Savior of the world has come.
Prince of Peace Christmas table runner features chalkboard style design with Scripture verse in Christmas tree shaped typography. Cotton canvas runner; 12″ x 72″.His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, Price of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
A Family Advent Activity that can be used year after year!
Reclaim the wonder of Christmas as you open up this book and watch the tree pop-up! Every day of December, open the enclosed booklet and read your daily love letter from The Greatest Story ever told, right from our beginning in Genesis to our King’s coming under Bethlehem’s star. Know that His love has always, always, always been coming for you!
After the day’s reading, fling open the one of the 25 advent doors – and discover that day’s Biblical ornament to hang on your very own tree that will end up telling the grandest Gospel story, from the Beginning to Bethlehem!
This year, anticipate the busy season of Advent and Christmas with hope rather than dread. Join Passion conference founder and pastor Louie Giglio as you take hold of God’s great promise embodied in the 24-day countdown to Christ’s birth. Discover that waiting is not wasting when you’re waiting on the Lord. You’ll come away with peace and encouragement for your soul! 112 pages, paperback.
Oval Merry Christmas platter with Bible verse quote from John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Creamy ivory ceramic platter is 12″ x 9″ with recessed center and raised beaded design border. A festive accent for your Christmas table or party, and on display it’s a timeless Christmas message of hope.
Upscale font design; snowflake accent trim. Dishwasher and microwave safe. You’ll want one for yourself, and what a meaningful Christmas gift to give.
Christmas ornament in elegant marquise shape, is crafted of wood and beautifully displays the true story of Christmas, the birth of Christ in museum quality artwork and design. 5″ x 3.25″, with quote from Isaiah 9:6 Wonderful, Counselor….Prince of Peace. Artwork by Jon McNaughton.Trim the tree, or give as a meaningful Christmas gift. Flat wood ornament with Scripture verse.
Little hearts will love the Fisher-Price ® Little People ® Nativity Set! Engage your toddler in the joy of celebrating the true meaning of Christmas with their own nativity set, complete with chubby, child-friendly figures and all the key characters that bring to life the story of Baby Jesus’ birth.
Celebrate the joy of Christmas with family-friendly Fisher-Price Nativity, an interactive playset that focuses on the first Christmas. Colorful, durable Little People include figures of Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus, plus the Christmas angel, wise men, animals, accessories and a stable, with light-up Christmas star! Includes 18 pieces altogether. Push the sound button to hear Away in a Manger softly play. On/Off switch for sound and light is in the back; requires 3 AA batteries (not included).
Kids can enjoy assembling the characters and retelling the story all through December.
Trusted toy design from Fisher-Price to teach the best Christmas story ever, for children and toddlers, Sunday School and nursery, baby shower and early Christmas gift idea.
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