Sunday 30th November 2025
Keith Mack
“… the moment for you to awake from sleep.”
Romans 13:11 (NRSV)
Advent is a season of anticipation, of waiting and watching for the coming of Jesus—both in remembrance of his birth and in hope for his return. Romans 13:11–14 calls us as believers to spiritual wakefulness in light of the approaching dawn.
Paul begins with urgency: “You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers.”
Time is not static. Each passing day brings us closer to the fulfilment of God’s promises. Paul’s metaphor of sleep speaks to spiritual laziness—something that can easily creep into our lives amid the routines and distractions of the world. The season of Advent can shake us from that slumber, inviting us to be alert, intentional, and expectant.
Paul continues, “The night is far gone, the day is near.” In Advent, we live in this tension: the world is still dark in many ways, but the Light has come and is coming again. The “armour of light” Paul mentions reflects the transformation that Jesus brings. It is both a defence against powers of darkness and a visible sign of who we now are in Jesus.
Verses 13 and 14 challenge us to live in accordance with this new identity. Paul names behaviours associated with the “works of darkness” and calls us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Not just repenting of sin but living with purpose and inviting the presence of Jesus into our lives and our sphere of influence. During Advent, as we prepare for His coming, we also invite him to walk with us and let us reflect his light.
In this season, Romans 13:11–14 urges us not to drift passively through time, but to live as people who are awake, hopeful, and transformed—bearing witness to the Light that is already shining and the Day that is drawing near.
Shall we pray?
Lord Jesus, in this season of Advent, awaken our hearts to your coming. Help us to cast off the darkness and walk in your light. Clothe us with your presence, and teach us to live each day in hope, love, and readiness. As we wait for you, may our lives reflect your grace and truth.
Come, Lord Jesus—our Light and our Salvation. Amen.
Keith Mack is minister at St John’s and Newton Church. He is husband to Donna, dad to Sophie, Chris, Pete and Bonsai the dog!
Thinking it through:
What does it mean to “wake from sleep” spiritually, and how might God be calling you to wake up in this season of Advent?
(Consider areas of your life where you may have grown complacent or distracted.)
Paul contrasts the “works of darkness” with the “armour of light.” What might “putting on the armour of light” look like in your daily life during Advent?
(Think relationships, habits, or decisions.)
How does the hope of Christ’s return shape the way we live today?
(In what ways can Advent be a time of not just waiting, but of preparation?)