Day 49 - Footprints

Reading: Romans 13: 11-14
Reflective Thoughts
Footprints
Reduce the size of your carbon footprint! This is an urgent message by global warming advocates to make as little impact on our environment as possible. Paul had a similar urgent message for believers of the first century. His concern, however, was for their spiritual footprint-and he wanted them to make it bigger.
The sense of urgency to live lives of love was most certainly referring to the fact that the Lord could return at any moment. How would Jesus find His Church? Other reasons also beckoned believers to be awake and alert to urgent needs. Lives in the Roman Empire didn't matter. Infanticide was a common practice. Plague outbreaks caused entire towns to abandon their sick. Immorality was rampant. A fire in Rome would soon propel the first wave of brutal Christian persecution. All of these became the staging ground for the growth of the Church and the glory of God.
When you think of loving your neighbor and of putting off the sinful nature, do you do it with a sense of urgency? All that we can leave behind us are footprints. Where will yours be found-and will anyone be able to see them?