Wednesday, April 23rd

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 13-14, Psalm 81, John 13

Today's scripture focus is Ephesians 5:8-14

Ephesians 5:8-14

English Standard Version (ESV)

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Accompanying David Legge sermon: The Children of Light
Accompanying John MacArthur sermon: Living in the Light

We were darkness.  We weren't just victims of darkness.  We were contributors, active participants.  We were darkness personified.  That hits hard, doesn't it?

Legge:
I believe, sincerely, that some of the greatest difficulties we have in the Christian life with regards to holiness are because we do not fully understand our own depravity before we were saved. We think of ourselves more highly than we ought. Paul is reminding them

It's only when we understand our absolute depravity in contrast to His absolute holiness that we can even come close to understand His mercy and love.

We were darkness.  But now, we are light!  And we need to live like it.

God is saying: 'Look, if the light of God is in you, you will be the prism of Jesus Christ - and you will radiate His light in these three things: goodness, righteousness, and in truth'.
We prove that we are light by radiating those good things, but also by refusing to partake in evil things, and by exposing them, as guided by the Holy Spirit (some things we shouldn't even speak of, and definitely not dwell on).

when Christians walk as the children of light, as Christ walked, light will be brought to other people. We are to show forth God's light, and it's not just preaching the Gospel, but it's preaching the Gospel with a life filled with the light of God - that's what makes the difference! When men can see: 'That is for real! That really works!'.
Do we radiate Christ with the way we live our lives?


Tomorrow's scripture focus: Ephesians 5:15-21

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Judges 15-16, Psalm 82, John 14