“Childhood of Christ” (detail) by Gerrit van Honthorst
“Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now 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. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light…” (Romans 13:11-12).
In Him all things are possible, nothing matters without Him.
It is only by the grace of God that we have been saved and it is only by His grace that we are able to perform those works He prepared for us beforehand (see Ephesians 2:10). In fact, the very first time our hearts turned toward the Lord was in response to His gracious invitation to us. The Church calls this type of grace prevenient grace.
Saint John of the Cross, among other saints, speaks of those moments when our thoughts turn to God, seemingly without any doing on our part. He says that our thinking of God then is not our doing at all, but rather God placing the thought in us… or rather that God is passing close by to us.
We need to understand the power and gift that is God’s grace and embrace it, say yes to it and be led by it. For it is the very love of God for us, operating in our lives. This is what it means to live in Christ.
If any of the works of darkness remain in any way a part of your life, by His grace, cast them off. Turn yourself over fully in trustful surrender to the Lord Jesus. If you open yourself to Him, He will change your life. It’s never too late.
Come, Lord Jesus.
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