19th October 2023
Pray (ACts) Read (Romans 13v13) Message (Scott Woodburn) It was once a staple of parenting that mothers and fathers would advise their child on how to stand, sit and speak. Standing and sitting were both to be done "up straight" and speaking was to say "three" not "free". I often received such advice but I can't recall if my mother ever corrected my walking. Probably walking wisdom would mirror that of standing and sitting, walk up straight and don't slouch but I'll leave that for you to decide. Like a concerned parent the Apostle once offered the Romans advice about their "walk" saying "Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarrelling and jealousy." (v13). The walk in this instance is our Christian walk and once more Paul is clear that the Christian belongs to the daytime and not the night. We should certainly not walk in the path of orgies and drunkenness. When I visited Italy during the summer I had the privilege of spending two days in the town of Pompeii which was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79. To say that the ancient Romans were obsessed with sexual intercourse would be an understatement. The image of the penis is everywhere in Pompeii and brothels were an accepted and common part of the town. Walking rightly before the Lord was the same in Paul's day as ours. We are not to become like the prevailing culture which promotes sexual immorality and sensuality. In the same manner the Christian should walk rightly by fleeing from drunkenness. In my late teens I drank alcohol regularly and yet I never knew my limit. One drink at the match would turn into one too many and I would be bouncing off walls as I tried to walk home. I was a fool and I allowed alcohol to become my master. If you currently know such foolishness then the Apostle warns that drunkenness should not define a Christian. So far so good you might say - you do not struggle with sexual immorality or drunkenness. If so, then praise God, but as this verse ends Paul speaks to characteristics which all too often define us and tragically our churches. The Christian walk should not know either quarrelling or jealousy. How often do we fight and argue over foolish issues? How many churches have been torn apart because one faction wants one thing and is prepared to fight to get it? Even now, how many of us harbour jealousy because a fellow Christian seems to get more attention than we do? Brothers and sisters, if any of this resonates then may we quickly seek to repent. We belong to Jesus and are therefore children of the daytime. May our daily walk bring glory to the Lord who brought us out of darkness and into His marvellous light. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6v8) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q74 What is required in the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.
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