Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. (Rom 13:13 NIV)

There might be some, who disagree with the apostle on these issues. He’s very clear on the things that are incompatible with a lifestyle in the light of Jesus Christ and as faithful Christians. Some of us might excuse or even laud the things he calls pagan, sinful and works of darkness. That does not just happen amongst raw people, but even amongst those, who are called highly educated and sophisticated. Sin and its vices, spiritual blindness and godless being is not restricted to lower classes, certain nationalities or poor education. No – they are found throughout society and in all places. It was like that in Rome too, when the apostle addressed them with this most precious letter. Even amongst the most gifted congregations like that in Rome, you still need to hear the apostolic admonition: Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Amen.

True faithfulness wages lifelong warfare with sin even unto death. It does not just go with the flow, but rather strives for victory in every temptation and conflict. (Johann Joseph Winckler, 1670-1722)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the first Sunday in Advent. It is found on Pg. 10 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.