I meant to write a little about this yesterday. But.... no excuses. I just got distracted with other things: Like finishing Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg and also finishing Bold as a Lamb by Ken Anderson--both, very good and I recommend them (the former is available through the general market, a current best seller; the latter is available through Voice of the Martyrs [if you want to know what either is about, just ask me]). Plus, yesterday I also made progress on my writing assignment for the course I'm taking. Anyhooooooo, all of that to say, it was not a waisted day; nevertheless, I neglected to write about a couple verses that jumped out at me. And now the inspiration (or whatever it is) has faded somewhat. But I want to at least mention them.
In Romans 13, Paul seems to be addressing some perceived laziness on the part of the Roman Christians. Maybe, he has heard some rumors about their relaxed attitude. Or maybe, being an astute observer of human nature, he just figured everyone can benefit from such reminders. In any case, in verse 11, he tells them and us "to wake up from your slumber." He was just talking about the continuing debt of love and that all the commandments can be summed up in the command to love. It is not my pattern here to analyze the Roman church or what Paul wanted to say to them. Rather, this phrase jumped out at me. That is, perhaps the Holy Spirit is trying to tell me to wake up. Maybe the Holy Spirit's alarm clock has been buzzing for some time. And I wonder how many times I have rolled over in my laziness and punched the snooze button so I could slumber a little longer. And that reminds me of the Proverb about "a little sleep a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come on you like a bandit." (Proverbs 6:10-11; and Proverbs 24:33-34). So the problem (or part of it at least) lies in a sleepy attitude. Right?
Then the solution, or a key element of it at least, comes in verse 14: "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ...." It's almost as if Paul continues the imagery of waking up from our sleep and what is one of the first things we do when we wake up? We get dressed. Right? So when I wake up from my spiritual slumber, do I dress myself--cover, enclose, wrap up--in Christ Jesus? Or do I go about unprotected, partially uncovered and exposed?
Well, those were some of the thoughts that came to me from yesterday's passage. Today I finished chapter 15 and tomorrow I will finish the Letter to the Romans.
Thanks for reading. Any thoughts, input, reaction, feedback are always welcome. I love to read them, even if I don't always reply.
me with my beautiful, wonderful (bw)
Bibles Unbound
About Me
- Glenn
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- Currently, I am posting my "musings on Ephesians." This was a 6 1/2 month process of allowing Paul's letter to Ephesus to speak to me about my situations. Some of it gets rather personal. But hopefully it can help you too.
3 comments:
I, too, can identify with the phrase, "wake up from your slumber" on both a physical and spiritual level. With a few late, late nights in the last couple weeks, I've definitely felt more tired than usual, which causes other issues to crop up. Spiritually, my prayer life has not been the best in the last few weeks - which also effects me detrimentally.
When you talk about clothing ourselves in Christ, my mind goes to our baptismal garments - the alb - which symbolizes not a covering but a renewal (through death) of our souls. Taking up that garment, or the role of the baptised, is missional and communal. We are called to task in this: namely to devote ourselves to the apostles teaching, to the breaking of bread, and the prayers. None of that can be done on our own, meaning that we are not alone. We are surrounded by and subsist in the body of Christ. In the same measure, then, we are not unprotected or exposed.
Nice to hear from you again. It's been a while.
I thought the "alb" was the priest's garment. Apparently I am mistaken. But you bring up a good point in the symbolism of baptism. The challenge probably for all of us is to put that symbolism into action and lifestyle.
P.S.: To Sara--I've read your comments too and appreciate them. But I feel at a loss how to reply. But keep them coming!
While the alb is most frequently worn by ministers serving at mass or the office, it is also the white garment given at baptism, and in purpose and symbolism is the same as the surplice. A sacramental view of baptism sees it as the point of regeneration and new life in Christ. We are made clean, ennobled, and enabled by the Spirit of Christ to his service.
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