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27 September 2007
Ephesians 5 v 10-14
Try to learn what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the things done in darkness, which are not worth anything. But show that they are wrong. It is shameful even to talk about what those people do in secret. But the light makes all things easy to see, and everything that is made easy to see can become light. This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper! Rise from death, and Christ will shine on you."
Whenever I buy a new gadget or computer program, I tend to rush in to using it without taking the time to read the manual first. Because I don't know what I'm doing, I usually end up getting stuck and taking more time to sort out the mess than I would have taken to read the manual in the first place.
Wisely, Paul tells us in today's reading to "learn what pleases God" - to take the time to learn what we're supposed to be doing before we get ourselves stuck. The way that we do this is to read the manual - the Bible!
But Paul also tells us that it's not enough to just learn what pleases God, we have to put it into action - not just learning to avoid the "things done in darkness", but to stand up and "show that they are wrong".
To be a true disciple of Christ requires two things - that we hear and learn what pleases God, and then we go out and do it. This is the hardest part, especially when we risk embarrassment or isolation from friends, but God is true to his word. If we live for Christ, he will "shine on you".
Father, thank you that you send your light to shine on me. Please make me a good bearer of that light, and give me the courage to stand up to the darkness. I know that I don't need to be scared of that darkness anymore, because you are with me. Amen.
Written by David Redfield
Ephesians 5 v 10-14
Try to learn what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the things done in darkness, which are not worth anything. But show that they are wrong. It is shameful even to talk about what those people do in secret. But the light makes all things easy to see, and everything that is made easy to see can become light. This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper! Rise from death, and Christ will shine on you."
Whenever I buy a new gadget or computer program, I tend to rush in to using it without taking the time to read the manual first. Because I don't know what I'm doing, I usually end up getting stuck and taking more time to sort out the mess than I would have taken to read the manual in the first place.
Wisely, Paul tells us in today's reading to "learn what pleases God" - to take the time to learn what we're supposed to be doing before we get ourselves stuck. The way that we do this is to read the manual - the Bible!
But Paul also tells us that it's not enough to just learn what pleases God, we have to put it into action - not just learning to avoid the "things done in darkness", but to stand up and "show that they are wrong".
To be a true disciple of Christ requires two things - that we hear and learn what pleases God, and then we go out and do it. This is the hardest part, especially when we risk embarrassment or isolation from friends, but God is true to his word. If we live for Christ, he will "shine on you".
Father, thank you that you send your light to shine on me. Please make me a good bearer of that light, and give me the courage to stand up to the darkness. I know that I don't need to be scared of that darkness anymore, because you are with me. Amen.
Written by David Redfield
