Responsibility

A couple days go, a passage in Romans stood out to me because I felt that it clearly summarized where I am in this current season - learning to grow up, and fast! When I first read it, I thought that I should memorize it. Well, trying to memorize the first verse this morning was rather...rough. I kept fumbling through the words and adding my own....so then I felt direction to just take the next couple of days to meditate on each verse. I'm so glad that the Holy Spirit never condemns me when I mess up, but knows best how to teach me the truth for the day.

To provide some context, the passage is found at the end of Romans 13. Paul is exhorting believers to submit to authority, even authority figures that aren't believers because they have been put over them as authority by God. He stresses that they have been put there to minister for our good, not for evil. If we want to live without fear of authority, then we must do rightly by them - paying taxes, etc. He also warns that if we do not do these things, the authorities do not possess power for nothing. We will reap evil for our evil, but good for our good if we live responsibly. It is very important to give each person what is owed to them - taxes, customs (I'm not sure what he means by that), fear, and honor. Believers should owe each other nothing but love.

So, the first verse of the passage:

Romans 13:11
"And do this, knowing the time, that it is now high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed."

Response:
When I choose to make good, grown up decisions (getting up early and putting myself together even if I'm just staying at home) and carrying out household administrative tasks (recording expenses in the budget sheet and not dragging my feet to send paperwork out to AES), I have to remember that I'm not just being responsible for the sake of being responsible citizen - although being responsible is good! When I do these things, I am choosing to shake off the sleepy stupor and  live rightly because Jesus' return is quickly approaching. The verse says that it is nearer to me than when I first believed. 
I have to take advantage of the time that He has granted to me here on earth, in this specific season, to learn the lessons that He has planned for me.  It is important to choose to learn these lessons too so when this season ends and a new one begins, I am ready for those new lessons with a firm foundation of already learnt lessons to stand on.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank You for waking me from the sleepy stupor of complacency. Thank You for giving me hope and empowering me to live rightly. Show me how to give honor to whom honor is due. Please help me not to be scared. I love You.