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Like Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), Paul considers attitudes as important as actions. Just as hatred leads to murder, so jealousy leads to strife, and lust to adultery. When Christ returns he wants to find His people clean on the inside as well as on the outside. Decent behavior, Paul declares, is based on Christ-controlled desires.

Romans 13:11-14

1. What time period (v. 12) is represented by "the night"?
2. And to what does "the day" refer?
3. Some harmful desires are listed in verse 13. What desires threaten to trip you up?
4. What, according to verse 14, is the only sure way to be delivered from wrong desires?
5. If Jesus is in control of your life, what patterns may you need to shed like dirty clothes?
6. How can you suit up into the armor of right living? From what will this protect you?
7. Have you found that decent and true behavior (v. 13) eventually wins broad approval?
8. Why (v. 11) does Christ's impending return serve as a wakeup call for leaving darkness and living in the light?

Give Christ permission to take control of your desires so that your life will be lived totally in the light.

11 Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light.

13 We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. 14 But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, cause me to increasingly align my desires with Your good, pleasing, and perfect will.

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