March 31, 2011

March 31: Expose the darkness

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By Yolo Lopez-Perez, a junior broadcasting major from Elkhart
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 5:8-14 (NRSV)
Scroll down for complete Scripture.

DEVOTIONAL:
We often think that being in darkness means being involved with legal trouble, drugs, pre-marital relationships or unsafe parties. The list goes on. But I believe that being in darkness is beyond these obvious concepts we consider to be bad. Rather, it narrows down to one question: how often do we fall into negative secular understandings and approaches to the world that may even seem normal, but are actually dark and un-Christlike? Are we willing to give them up completely to be closer to God?

From first-hand experience, I admit that it is not easy going in the opposite direction of society’s flow as a follower of Christ. We often want to continue fitting in with what is popular without being too preachy, nor being too worldly either. But I have learned that when we go with the flow, we fail to see what God’s Word has to say about the things we think are OK. God’s Word calls us to live radical lives as children of light. His words are not symbolic nor figures of speech in this passage. Instead his Word is calling us to step it up on a spiritual level and stop being a part of ungodly activities that hinder our relationship with Christ. We are to expose what is wrong with kindness, love and patience.

If we are truly awake and walking in the light, we have to wake those who are sleeping so that Christ can begin touching their lives too. But it all begins by taking a bold step of faith to expose things of darkness no matter how uncomfortable we may feel. If we say to live for Christ, let’s please him first, rather than others. In the end, salvation will be our reward and the reward of others.

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 5:8-14 (NRSV)
8For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— 9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

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Comments (8)

  1. Thanks for the reminder.Good word today! Blessings-

    jennifer March 31, 2011 |

  2. Yolo, thanks for calling me to intentionally walk in Light today.

    Heather March 31, 2011 |

  3. Thanks for your fresh interpretation of this passage. You bring the challenge to life. Thank you.

    Janice March 31, 2011 |

  4. Thank you Yolo for directing me to this passage today. It reminds me that if I’m a child of the light how will this influence the way I choose to live today. If I choose to live in the light, my life then exposes “the fruitless deeds of darkness,” & that is a difficult challenge for even some Christ followers react to that as being judgmental.

    Mark March 31, 2011 |

  5. Direct and powerful. Thank you, Yolo.

    Barry March 31, 2011 |

  6. So true and powerful. I’ll carry these words in my heart as I go through my week.

    Thank you.

    Susan March 31, 2011 |

  7. Very well put, thanks. We sometimes need to hear others’ thoughts on living in darkness and living in the light.

    Liz Lehman March 31, 2011 |

  8. There’s a lot of wisdom in your little meditation, Yolo.
    We need to be courageous and take a stand, even though it may not be the popular thing to do. Thanks
    for sharing your thoughts with us.

    Loretta Yoder Ostojic March 31, 2011 |