3/22/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
In Ephesians 5:8-14 the apostle Paul describes Christians as “light.” He draws a distinction between light and darkness. This is a very common distinction in the Bible. Light normally symbolizes goodness, purity, truth, and regeneration. Darkness, the opposite.
In verse 11 he speaks about exposing the works of darkness. Yet he follows it up immediately by saying that we wouldn’t want to talk about the things “they do in secret,” i.e., the things of the darkness. So what is the purpose of this exposure to light? It seems that as we shine the light of God on the works of darkness they actually change. They don’t merely become visible (v. 13) but they are converted in some way (v. 14).
When the light of God’s truth shines on our bad situations, our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds, God can redeem them for his good. He can change our thoughts. He can guard our words. He can redirect us into activities which are good, not bad. This is no kind of works righteousness. It is redemption by grace.
May the light of Christ shine on us today.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
In Ephesians 5:8-14 the apostle Paul describes Christians as “light.” He draws a distinction between light and darkness. This is a very common distinction in the Bible. Light normally symbolizes goodness, purity, truth, and regeneration. Darkness, the opposite.
In verse 11 he speaks about exposing the works of darkness. Yet he follows it up immediately by saying that we wouldn’t want to talk about the things “they do in secret,” i.e., the things of the darkness. So what is the purpose of this exposure to light? It seems that as we shine the light of God on the works of darkness they actually change. They don’t merely become visible (v. 13) but they are converted in some way (v. 14).
When the light of God’s truth shines on our bad situations, our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds, God can redeem them for his good. He can change our thoughts. He can guard our words. He can redirect us into activities which are good, not bad. This is no kind of works righteousness. It is redemption by grace.
May the light of Christ shine on us today.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
RSS Feed