“Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” – Romans 13:13-14
Daylight exposes what darkness tries to hide, and in the same way, the light of Christ reveals what honors Him and what does not. Jesus said, “Light has come into the world… but men loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19–20). Darkness represents secrecy, sin, and shame, but as God’s children, we are called to walk openly before Him. Paul lists the “works of darkness”—revelry, drunkenness, lust, strife, envy—because these belong to the old life we left behind. Instead, we are to shine like a house glowing in the night, unmistakably different from the world around us. Daniel lived this way in Babylon; even his enemies “could find no corruption in him” (Daniel 6:4). His integrity made him a beacon of God’s light in a dark culture.
So how do we live this kind of life in a world filled with temptation? Paul gives us the answer: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” At salvation, we were clothed in His righteousness, but daily living requires a daily choice. Just as we dress ourselves each morning, we must intentionally “put on” Christ’s character—compassion, humility, kindness, patience, and love (Colossians 3:12–14). This means refusing to make room for sin, especially in our thoughts. The battle always begins in the mind. Joseph understood this when Potiphar’s wife tempted him. He didn’t linger or negotiate—he fled, saying, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). Joseph teaches us that victory begins long before the action—it begins with guarding the heart and mind.
Paul’s message is simple but profound: don’t give sin a place to grow. Fill your mind with God’s Word, your heart with prayer, and your life with the presence of Christ. When we “put on” Jesus, we walk in the light, reflect His character, and shine in a world desperate for hope. And as we do, we fulfill the everlasting debt of love—loving in a way that heals wounds, bridges divides, and points others to Christ. Each day brings us closer to the return of our Savior. Let us live awake, alert, and clothed in Christ, so that when He comes, He finds us faithful.
Choose today to walk in the light. Guard your thoughts, reject anything that feeds the flesh, and intentionally “put on” the character of Christ. Let your life shine with integrity, purity, and love. Ask God to help you live in such a way that others see Jesus in you—and are drawn to His light.
“The Christian must renounce the deeds of darkness and manifest the fruits of light, for he is called to reflect the character of Christ.”—A.W. Pink
surrendered devotions 