Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. – Ephesians 5:11
Every hiker knows when darkness falls and you are not off the trail yet, even a flashlight with low batteries is a blessing when it is turned on. The first verses in the Bible paint a picture of a formless void, chaotic and dark, then God speaks light and it bursts forth. He calls it GOOD!
In the story of redemption, Jesus comes to bring the light of salvation to a lost world. Of course, darkness tries to stop it. King Herod has all the baby boys killed in Bethlehem to keep light from shining forth, but fails. As Jesus matures, Satan tempts Him to betray His heritage, hoping He will submit to the world’s power rather than His Father’s will, and fails. And in the ultimate endeavor to extinguish light, evil crucifies Jesus and buries Him in the darkness of a tomb. Yet again, as in creation, light bursts forth, this time wrapped in eternal life.
Like stars reflecting the sun in the night sky, the resurrected Christ says if you are following Him, you will reflect Him on Earth. But what does that mean in your life? It means you may bear witness to Christ when others cannot see Him, following His commands, even in front of those who do not recognize His authority. This may lead you to serve others, perhaps in places where no other light is seen. Pray for God’s presence in America, that those who are followers of Jesus Christ will lead many out of the darkness by turning His light on.
Today’s Verse: Ephesians 5:11
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 12:44-48
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
