"And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11)

Ever snoozed your alarm so many times you almost missed something important? Paul says that's how a lot of us are living spiritually. Half asleep. Coasting. And he wants us wide awake, because the finish line is closer than we realize.

Jesus talked about this all the time. He pointed His disciples to a fig tree: "As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door" (Mark 13:28-29). You don't need a calendar to read a fig tree. The signs speak for themselves. And Jesus laid out plenty of signs in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 that all point one direction.

Now, He was clear that nobody knows the exact day. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert!" (Mark 13:32-33). So this isn't about date-setting or anxiety. It's about being ready. Not hiding, not distracted, not so tangled up in daily life that we miss the moment. Jesus said when things start unfolding, "stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28). Heads up, not heads down.

And there's work to do while we wait. Jesus said the gospel "will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). Read that again. The mission and the timing are connected. The sooner the good news reaches everyone, the sooner we're home.

Here's what I love, though. This whole urgency flows out of love, not fear. Paul just finished talking about love fulfilling the law, then said "and do this, understanding the present time." We tell people about Jesus because we love God and we love them, not because we're scared or guilt-tripped into it. So talk to your neighbor. Talk to your coworker. Talk to your family. Live wide awake, and share the best news you've ever heard.

A Few Honest Questions:

1. Where have you been spiritually snoozing when God is asking you to wake up?

2. Is your urgency to share your faith coming from love, or from fear and guilt?

3. Who is one person you could tell about Jesus this week?