◄ What Does Romans 13:13 Mean? ►

In each of his church epistles, Paul pays much attention to instructing believers in our personal consecration, our reasonable service, our spiritual giftings, and our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. He also pays close attention to our personal conduct, our service to unbelievers, our responsibilities towards the government and those in authority, and the manner in which we should act towards the world, in general.

His epistle to the Romans has been argued to contain the most thorough treatise on every aspect of our initial justification, ongoing sanctification, and future glorification, together with the most comprehensive directive on the godly behaviour and personal conduct given to the Body of Christ.

In the penultimate chapter of his instructive manual, the apostle considers the time of the Lord's return and turns our attention to the sort of behaviour our heavenly Father expects from all His born-again children: "Let us behave properly as in the day," he charges us. Let us conduct ourselves in a godly and transparent manner, he exhorts us, so that our Christian walk will be honouring to the Lord.

Paul is aware that many deeds of darkness are carried out during the cover of night, so that evil exploits and nefarious deeds are hidden away and can be conducted in secret, and without fear of being seen! However, this is not the type of behaviour in which God's children should engage.

Let us walk becomingly, as we do in the daytime, he implores us. Let us conduct our lives transparently and virtuously during the dark watches of the night, with the same openness and integrity as we do when we are being observed by a group of friends or a bustling crowd of people.

Let us behave at all time with the same godly propriety that we do in the daytime, he charges us: "Not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, and not in strife and jealousy." Too often it is under cover of darkness that crimes are committed, tempers are lost, violent behaviour is exhibited, and people partake in unsavoury acts of debauchery and gross sexual immorality.

The excesses and extravagances in which the world delights should not be embraced by those who have been set free from the slave-market of sin. Christians are children of the day and should walk in light of life. We who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ should conduct ourselves in a manner that brings honour to the Lord.

Our words and actions should become a living testimony of a pure heart that is clothed with Christ no matter where we are or who we are with, so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the wise instruction contained in the Pauline epistles. I pray that all I say and do, may be a living testimony of a life that is consecrated to God. May my life be one of transparency and purity, honesty and integrity, no matter where I may go, and help me always to behave righteously whether I am in the company of others or by myself. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.