Wake Up: Urgent Call to Love and Readiness

Devotional

Day 1: Love God and neighbor: the heart of the law.

You are called to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself; this is not merely emotion but the totality of living out God's will—providing for needs, speaking truth in love, and letting Christ's sacrificial love shape every relationship. [09:38]

Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV)
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
38 This is the great and first commandment.
39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Reflection: Who is one neighbor you can tangibly love this week (a meal, a phone call, bringing needed supplies)? Choose one concrete act and do it before Sunday.

Day 2: Wakefulness: live ready for Christ's return.

There is an urgency to wake from spiritual slumber, to live alert to God's movement, and to prepare daily as if the Lord might come at any hour—this readiness shapes decisions, priorities, and how one uses gifts for God's kingdom. [26:08]

Matthew 24:36, 42-44 (ESV)
36 But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Reflection: Identify one spiritual habit that signals spiritual sleep (news binges, constant scrolling, neglecting prayer). Replace it today with a 10–15 minute time of Scripture and prayer at a set hour each day this week.

Day 3: Live like morning people; put on the light.

Redeem the time by casting off deeds of darkness—sexual immorality, drunkenness, quarreling, jealousy—and consciously put on the Lord Jesus Christ, adopting habits and community supports that reflect the life, humility, and love of Christ. [27:54]

Romans 13:11-14 (ESV)
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."

Reflection: Choose one specific “work of darkness” you will begin to remove tonight (e.g., a relationship, habit, or media) and list one concrete replacement practice (accountability partner, worship, exercise) you will start tomorrow.

Day 4: Action over words: feed Christ's sheep.

Love must move from confession to compassion; when Jesus asks for proof of love He commands service—feed the hungry, tend the overlooked, and spend His love without judging which sheep deserve care. [37:11]

John 21:15-17 (ESV)
15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”"

Reflection: Who is a person or group you have overlooked or judged? Commit to one concrete act this week to “feed” them (bring a meal, volunteer, listen, offer help) and carry it out.

Day 5: Put away bitterness; clothe yourself with Christ.

Rid yourself of bitterness, rage, anger, slander, and malice; instead clothe yourself with kindness, tenderhearted forgiveness, and the compassion of Christ so that the church and the world see His transforming grace. [33:20]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Write the name of one person you feel bitterness toward, pray for them now, and choose one small act of kindness you will do for or toward them within the next three days.

Sermon Summary

I asked our church family to wake up to the nearness of God’s kingdom and the urgency of love. Jesus says no one knows the hour of His return, so staying awake means living ready—repentant, watchful, and generous. I shared a personal memory of “rock bottom’s basement” because I know the darkness Christ rescued me from. That’s why the call felt urgent—like Foreigner sang—because the day is almost here. Paul says to put off the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. That is not vague spirituality; it is concrete discipleship—turning from indulgence and secrecy, dissension and jealousy, and choosing the humility, truth, and service of Jesus.

We looked at the parables that follow Jesus’ warning: the virgins who stayed ready, the servants who used their talents, and the sheep who loved the least. Readiness is not fear; readiness is fidelity—using what God has given and feeding those He loves. Love fulfills the law, and it is more than a feeling. It is the totality of a life yielded to the Holy Spirit, poured out like Jesus poured Himself out on the cross. To love our neighbor as ourselves, we must also understand a healthy self-love: we feed ourselves, shelter ourselves, and refrain from self-harm. In the same way, love seeks to provide for others—food, clothing, safety, dignity.

I urged us to rid ourselves of the cancers of the soul—envy, strife, the small rivalries that fracture Christian witness. These are as serious as the headline sins, because they rot the inner life and grieve the Spirit. Instead, we clothe ourselves with Christ, wearing His virtues—love, humility, and courageous truth. Love is a debt we never finish paying, because we are spending what God first spent on us at the cross. As Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love Me?”—He ties love to action: “Feed My sheep.” Don’t just feel it. Spend it. Spend it on the least, the forgotten, the ones we might be tempted to overlook. Whether we go home first or He returns, let’s live ready: awake, repentant, using our gifts, and loving urgently.

Key Takeaways

1. Wake to the urgency of love Love is not a mood to admire but a bell to answer. Jesus’ return is certain but unscheduled, which turns every ordinary day into an opportunity for fidelity. Urgency doesn’t mean panic; it means priority—repentance now, reconciliation now, mercy now. The day is almost here, so let love lead your schedule. [25:14]
2. Wear the armor of light Putting off darkness requires putting something else on—Christ Himself. When we clothe ourselves with Him, our habits change: secrecy gives way to integrity, indulgence to self-control, rivalry to blessing. The Spirit forms Christ’s character in us, making holiness a lived wardrobe, not a wish list. [33:20]
3. Spend love, don’t just speak Jesus’ question to Peter presses us beyond sentiment into shepherding. Love is proven by care: feeding, tending, protecting, showing up when it costs. We don’t curate which sheep are “worthy”; we imitate the Shepherd who crossed every line to find us. [37:45]
4. Use your gifts before dusk Readiness looks like stewardship—risking our talent for the Master and serving “the least of these.” Burying what God has entrusted is a quiet form of unbelief; love brings it into the light for others’ good. As daylight shortens, faithful action grows bolder, not smaller. [26:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:50] - God among us; the Great Commandment
[09:38] - Love of God and neighbor
[23:27] - Rock bottom and grace
[24:17] - Urgency theme introduced
[24:42] - Foreigner’s “Urgent” and wake-up call
[25:14] - Stay awake; live ready
[26:08] - Three parables of readiness
[27:54] - Morning people and redeeming time
[28:53] - Love fulfills the law
[32:09] - Deeds of darkness versus inner purity
[33:20] - Put on the armor of light
[34:39] - The debt of love and “I and Love and You”
[36:31] - Jesus and Peter: Do you love me?
[37:45] - Feed My sheep: spend love
[39:01] - Live ready: use your gifts, love now
[45:05] - Confession and repentance
[72:27] - Sending and benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

- Romans 13:11-14 — Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. - Matthew 25:31-46 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’”

Observation Questions

Read Romans 13:11-14. What specific “works of darkness” does Paul name, and what does he pair those with as the way forward? (look for the contrasted behaviors and commands)
Read Matthew 25:31-46. What concrete acts are listed that identify the “sheep”? Which of those acts are practical/physical needs?
The pastor said he’d lived in “rock bottom’s basement” and that Christ rescued him from darkness. What point was he making about personal history and the urgency to live differently? [23:27]
The sermon pointed out three parables (virgins, talents, sheep/goats) after Jesus’ warning about the unknown hour. What common theme ties those three stories together? [26:08]

Interpretation Questions

In Romans 13:11-14 Paul uses the image of waking from sleep and putting on the armor of light. What does “putting on” Christ likely mean for everyday habits, speech, and relationships?
The preacher said “love is a debt we never finish paying.” How does viewing love as an ongoing obligation change the way a Christian schedules priorities and resources? [35:39]
Jesus told Peter to “feed my sheep” after asking if Peter loved him. How does the pastor connect Peter’s threefold questioning to action rather than feeling, and what does that imply about public Christian witness? [37:45]
The sermon warned that dissension and jealousy are “cancers of the soul.” Why does the preacher treat these internal attitudes as seriously as overt sins, and how might they uniquely harm a Christian community? [32:09]

Application Questions

Identify one gift, skill, or resource you have been hiding or downplaying (a “buried talent”). What is one concrete way you will use it this week for others or for the church? Set a specific time and step. [26:47]
Look at the list in Matthew 25 (feeding, clothing, visiting, welcoming). Name one person or family in your life who is lacking one of those things. What specific action will you take in the next seven days to meet that need (buy groceries, deliver a meal, bring clothes, visit, connect them to help)? [27:21]
Which “work of darkness” named in Romans or in the sermon most tempts you (e.g., secrecy/indulgence, drunkenness, quarrels, jealousy)? What one practical barrier can you remove this week (an app off your phone, an accountability partner, avoiding a place or person) to make that sin harder to practice? [32:09]
The preacher urged believers to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Pick two specific habits you will adopt this month that visibly clothe you with Christ (examples: a daily brief confession/prayer, one hour a week serving the marginalized, a monthly reconciliation conversation). How will you be held accountable for following through? [33:20]
The sermon stressed urgency—“the time is near” and “the day is almost here.” Where might you be treating love as optional because of comfort, busyness, or reputation? Choose one change (reschedule one leisure hour, say no to a commitment, choose presence over perfection) and do it this week so love becomes the priority. [25:14]
The pastor affirmed healthy self-love (feed yourself, shelter yourself) as part of loving neighbor. Is there a basic need you have neglected (sleep, nutrition, a doctor’s visit, safe boundaries)? What concrete step will you take in the next three days to care for that need so you can better love others? [30:13]
Think of a small rivalry, gripe, or jealousy you carry toward someone in your church, workplace, or family. What is one humble step you can take this week to dismantle that division (a short confession, a blessing, an offer of help, a conversation asking for forgiveness)? Plan the words you will say. [31:17]

Sermon Clips

``There’s an urgency in our reading this morning. It’s for us to wake up. That the time is near to rid ourselves of darkness and put on the armor of light. And when we know Jesus Christ and live into his life and resurrection, we have the power to turn the world upside down. To radically change ourselves and the world by loving one another with kindness, patience, and understanding. [00:25:08] (35 seconds) #WakeUpToLight

Paul tells us that as Christians, we’re morning people. The times just before dawn, the sun is breaking through the clouds. The alarm clock is ringing and it’s time to roust our minds from slumber, to be alert to what God is doing in the world and to live in accordance with God’s coming salvation, a life worthy of our calling. [00:27:46] (24 seconds) #RiseAndServe

We should be living with an urgency, remembering we’re terminal, that life is temporary, that we should change the way we live to focus on what’s truly important and not waste our time dancing with the devil, for it brings nothing but heartache. That love is what is truly important and that it is the fulfillment of the law. [00:28:34] (27 seconds) #LiveForLoveNow

He claims that a person who honestly seeks to discharge his debt of love will in turn strive to keep the commandments holy and not continue to gratify our sinful nature because when we do these things, the love of Christ cannot live in us and we will grieve the Holy Spirit. But true love restrains us from careless and immoral living and is not afraid to love and give from the heart. [00:29:02] (30 seconds) #ObedientLove

God wants to know our hearts. He wants to see our hearts in action. At one point in life, I thought that love just really was an emotion from my heart. But really, it’s the totality of us being inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit living within us, pouring out of us. Just Jesus poured out His love on the cross. He gave His all. And do you follow His lead or do you hold back? [00:29:31] (33 seconds) #PourOutLove

We must see that others are fed, that they have clothes on their back, clean water to drink, a place to sleep. Loving others as ourselves means actively working to see that those who are needy are met at that point in their life. We can have feelings of guilt about our past failures. But God’s message is a message of grace, hope, love, salvation, and liberation. [00:30:53] (32 seconds) #ServeTheNeedy

We must steer clear of darkness and live our lives in the light. The night is nearly over. The day is almost here. So, let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light and let us clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:33:11] (19 seconds) #ClotheInLight

We’re forever under an obligation to love one another, to live as servants, walk humbly as we shine our light, a light of love, compassion, grace, and hope in anticipation of His return, extending God’s mercy to all we meet. [00:35:47] (23 seconds) #ShineWithMercy

When we receive the Holy Spirit, we are united with God so that His love is manifested in us. after Peter recognizes the depth of his love for Jesus, Jesus made His point. Spend it. Don’t declare how much you love me. Don’t testify about the marvelous revelation you’ve had. Feed my sheep. Beware of letting your natural human sympathy decide which sheep you’ll feed. We’re called to spend God’s love and not pass judgment. [00:37:25] (40 seconds) #FeedAllTheSheep

This is the season to stand up and be counted among those who’ve been set free from the shackles of sin and darkness. This is the opportunity that may never come again. Now is the time to give our love to others that they may see that we are Christ’s disciples. [00:38:05] (22 seconds) #StandAndLove

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