50 Days of Wisdom

Paul tells us in Romans 13:11 that this is a time for understanding the urgency of the hour in which we live. It's a time to awaken from sleep. It's a time for spiritual alertness and vigilance and readiness and a time to get your priorities in place. It's a time to wake up. Now, the dictionary defines sleep as "a state of inactivity with a loss of consciousness and a decrease in responsiveness to events taking place." Now, that may well describe many Christians who are definitely in a state of inactivity with a loss of consciousness and a decrease in responsiveness to what is really happening. Someone said years ago, "Some people make things happen, some people watch things happen, and most people don't know what's happening." They are spiritual Rip Van Winkles; they just sleep through it all. Paul says now is not a time for that. Why? "For now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed." We are closer than ever to the return of Jesus Christ and to the end of the age. This becomes an incentive to holy living, ministry, and evangelism. It's time to wake up. Secondly, verse 12 says, "Let us therefore throw off, cast aside the deeds of darkness." The idea here is of the soldier who has partied himself into oblivion, and he's sound asleep, and he's still in his party clothes or his night garment, and it's now time to wake up and put off the clothes he wore in the wild orgy of the night. It's time to face the priority of what he is as a soldier and what awaits him in reality. It's a time to put aside the clothing of debauchery; there's no place for moral or spiritual slumber during the night of the world's sin. We have a specific task in the dawn of redemption: take off your pajamas, as it were, take off your party clothes, and get serious. Put off the works of darkness. What are they? Verse 13 says, "Carousing and drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, sensuality, strife, and jealousy." All these are the typical passions of the night. But this is only a representative list, not an exclusive one. Then there's a third component, "Put on." In verse 12, it says, "Put on the armor of light," and then in verse 13, it says, "Behave properly, as in the day." Put on your day clothes and act like you should act when everybody can see you. Put on the armor of light. Clothe yourselves. Light represents purity, holiness, righteousness, and virtue. In other words, put on your armor. You're going into battle; this is serious. Put on the breastplate of righteousness, put on the helmet of the hope of salvation, put on the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace, take the shield of faith, get the sword of the Spirit, and get your armor on; you're about to go into battle. Verse 14 then describes what it means to put on the armor of light: "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ." What does that mean? Be like Him. Put Him on. He clothes you positionally in justification. Let Him clothe you practically in sanctification. Become like Jesus Christ. Beloved, this is the answer. This is the consummate thing in Christian life. As you gaze into His glory and pour yourself into the Word of God and see Christ revealed, as you spend time with Him in prayer, He will transform you by His Holy Spirit into His own image, and you'll be putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, now is the time to wake up, throw off, and put on. Repent and believe! GTY.org (80-124) – Time to Wake Up

Today's Wisdom

Day: 1044

September 29, 2026

woman in white sweater reading free ebook

About Us

The Mark Paul Ministry dedicates itself to providing free Christian eBooks that inform and empower readers. Discover and download free ebooks and articles compiled by the Mark Paul Ministry, as well as experience the power of faith through authoritative expository preaching.

Grace and peace,

My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, "I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.

The Truth in Love,

Mark Paul - Servant of God

Now grant, O Lord, that when the souls who read these books cast their eyes upon these lines, their minds may be illuminated and their consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and be converted so that You may heal them. Amen!