Sunday, March 22, 2020

Are You Full of Darkness or Light?


Meditate on God’s word today and consider how you can apply it to your life.
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light." - Ephesians 5:8-14

Wake up! Are you in the darkness or in the light? Spiritually speaking? Like most people across the United States you’ve probably spent a considerable amount of time at home…isolated…for the past week. Have you been in the dark…moping around wondering what to do? Can’t spend time with friends unless you are six feet apart. There are only so many hours that you can sit in front of the TV and watch yet another YouTube video or movie. If your kids have been home you’ve been busy keeping them occupied or helping them with their homework. Homeschooling is not an easy job! Now what are you going to do for the next week or so…or maybe six weeks? School is rumored to be over for the year in some areas. Does summer vacation begins soon?! Those who are actually doing school at home have been doing some intense studying and may be even more focused at home than they were in school. We won’t be labeling those students as whimps! They have got the light…at least a physical motivation to do their work…to learn!

Spiritually, Paul was speaking to the Ephesians, about doing what pleases the Lord. Just like those people at the church of Ephesus, we may get tempted or experience peer pressure to go with the flow…to do what the crowd is doing, but is that right? Would that please God? It is essential that we decide BEFORE we get into any compromising situation what we would do. It is also just as important that we have discussions with our children and grandchildren about the way we should live…about moral choices and spiritual decisions. Think before we act…wake up you sleepyheads and let Christ show you His light. He is the way, the truth and the light. Don’t get worn down and discouraged…by life and especially by the corona virus. Use this time to seek to know Jesus more and to develop your relationship with Him. Spend some extra time reading the Bible, particularly the Gospels in the New Testament…and some Psalms and Proverbs every day. This time of isolation can be time of growth and renewal for you spiritually. Look for the Light.
 
Prayer ~Jesus, You said..."I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12. Show me the Light. Lead me and help me let Your light shine for others that they would come to know You more fully. Our time may be short…so let it be. 

© 2020 Text and painting by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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