In these last verses of Romans 13, Paul encourages Christians to recognize that it is time to be ready for Jesus' return and put away the things of darkness. Like how we respond to the dawn of a new day by getting ready for the day, Paul instructs that Christians should get prepared, welcome the light of truth, and put on Jesus.

Are you justified by your own actions or are you justified by the merciful salvation of Christ? Are you concerned with how much you must do to be right or are you overwhelmed by the limitless mercy expressed through the cross of Christ?

Dear friend – all those who have known the limitless, overwhelming fountain of the mercy of God that flowed through the veins of Jesus on the cross will “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself”