Living in the Light

Living in the Light

Ephesians 5: ⁶ Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him. ⁷ So have nothing at all to do with such people. ⁸ You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light, ⁹ for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

 

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Sneaking out the house under the cover of darkness, I was able to do what I wanted to do “without being detected.” In fact, many things I did that I did not want people to know, seemed to occur at night or in hidden moments.

 

• I was ashamed so I hid what I did.
• I was taught what was right and wanted to do wrong and hide it until I could figure out words to justify my actions.
• I did not want people to know the hidden side of me so I omitted the truth or ran with people who accepted what I was doing.

 

“Act like you belong to GOD” was the warning of Paul. He guided everyone to examine their old ways and to turn away from things that were not pleasing to GOD. This would come at a price. Some relationships would need to be severed and a new way of thinking needed to be pursued.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants to protect people from my dark ways.
• GOD wants me to turn from ways that are not pleasing to HIM so I can live for HIM without worry.
• GOD wants me to depend on HIS power to forgive and provide in the light.

 

Living in the light does not mean darkness goes away from my actions. I mean, I was born a sinner and this nature will remain until I am with CHRIST forever. But until then I have a choice that seems to fight each other.

 

People can easily fool me into believing something that is not pleasing to HIM or I can fool myself into falling away from GOD. BUT HE guides me back to HIM and gives me a better way to live. HE wants me to be brave enough expose my hidden sin so it will no longer have a hold on me. HIS light brings a rich harvest. I am glad HE brings goodness, righteousness and truth.

 

Challenge

• What is the writers warning to you?
• What does living in the light look like in your life?
• Will you examine yourself and see if there are ways that need to be brought to light so GOD can provide a rich harvest through you and in you today?

Servant Leadership

Servant Leadership

2 Corinthians 6: ³ We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone's way. ⁴ Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties. ⁵ We have been beaten, jailed, and mobbed; we have been overworked and have gone without sleep or food. ⁶ By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants—by the Holy Spirit, by our true love, ⁷ by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.

 

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Tired of bullies and being a goody, goody, I decided to get into body building. This way I could be attractive and be ready to fight. The bigger I got, the more I realized there was always a bully who was bigger and stronger than me. I was preparing to fight the wrong battle.

 

• I wanted to overcome frustrations by venting or fighting.
• I wanted to fulfil my lusts.
• I wanted to be seen as a strong leader based on the world’s definition.

 

Paul describes a life that is less desirable to many. It is a life dedicated to GOD’s service. He mentions that he was beaten, jailed, mobbed, sleepless and starving all for the sake of being a servant of GOD.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to patiently endure troubles, hardships and difficulties.
• GOD wants me to focus on purity, knowledge, patience and kindness to be HIS example.
• GOD wants me to show the love of the HOLY SPIRIT with the message of truth.

 

Being a pushover is not where GOD wants me. I mean, HE doesn’t want me gullible or unwise. HE knows the ways of the world require that I understand it, but not follow it. GOD’s kingdom is the only kingdom worth building.

 

HE loves when I surrender parts of my life solely for HIS purpose. HE then gives me HIS righteousness to attack injustice with peace and fight bullying, whether passive or overt, with love and truth. I gladly take on being a servant of GOD so HE may bring many back to HIS kingdom.

 

Challenge

• Have you ever viewed your hardship, difficulty or trouble as the ministry GOD wants you to use as your ministry?
• What do you notice about what the writer went through?
• As a child, were you ever scared to do something so you asked an adult to help you?
• Will you be that adult to someone and share how GOD is keeping your trial today?

Sometimes I forget why I’m here

Hebrews 1: But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;

    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

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Waking up with aches and pains immediately put me in the mindset of need. My prayers immediately went towards my comfort. Another time I sat at my desk feeling pressured. My prayer immediately went towards my relief. Yet another time I felt alone even though I sat in the midst of a crowd. My prayer immediately went towards finding human companionship.

Yes, I need GOD but do I only need HIM in crisis?

• Many times I forget I am GOD’s human.
• Sometimes I forget to focus my attention on GOD the SON.
• There are other times when I just simply focus on my needs and I never marvel at who the SON really is.

The FATHER says JESUS’ throne will last forever. This is not reserved for any other human. JESUS will rule with a scepter of justice. HE will love those who accept HIS position as GOD and HIS gift of self-sacrifice. There is no-one above HIM and all has been given to HIM.

My anxieties, worries, desires and doubts can all be cast aside when I focus on how bright the future will be with the SON as my guide. Many will fall away but my focus has to remain on the SON.

• Are you anxious about something?
• Is your mind racing because of some situation?
• Can you focus on the SON and know HE is in control?
• Won’t you stop trying to steer GOD and allow HIM to guide you?

HE found me!

Romans 10: ²⁰ And Isaiah boldly says,

 

   “I was found by those who did not seek me;

   I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”

 

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Despondent was the feeling I had coming into work that day. After three sets of interviews I soon found out this large company I really wanted to work at was facing its first layoff in their history. “I guess I will be stuck here” I thought to myself.

 

After a couple of weeks I actually felt better and accepted my destiny of living in the small town and working for the company I was trying to leave. Out of the blue I received a phone call. “We have been looking for you” says the recruiter. You mean they were actually looking for me?

 

• In the middle of my troubles I fail to seek GOD.
• In the center of my sin I turn my back on the one who can help, namely GOD.
• In the inception of my doubts I never look towards GOD.

 

Isaiah spoke about JESUS and stated “HE found me when I didn’t seek HIM.” JESUS is constantly looking for those who are open to HIS love.  HE wants those who are rejected, despondent, lonely and in despair.

 

Only HE can repair the heart HE created because HE knows every aspect of my life.  HE knows every thought, every struggle, and every pain. HE revealed HIMSELF to me but I didn’t fully grasp HIS wealth or power. In fact years later I am still trying to understand HIM.

 

• GOD does not seek my perfection because HE is already perfect.
• GOD does not seek my sinless life because HE died after walking the earth sinless.
• GOD does not seek my righteousness because only HE is righteous.

 

JESUS simply wants me. HE loves me and knows me. There is nothing I can hide from HIM. I owe my eternal life to HIM and that’s what makes me bold.

• Do you think your acts of righteousness will get you into heaven?
• Are you judging someone for what they are doing or not doing?
• Are you feeling rejected, lonely or full of despair?
• Can you allow JESUS to repair your heart and stop seeking the wrong things to fill the void?

Faith is available if I reach out and get it!

Ephesians 6:  ¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

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Question: How do I fight the spirit world that I cannot see, hear or touch?

¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

So I guess I need to be honest with GOD and tell HIM my true struggles instead of trying to manipulate him into getting my way. I need to confess my dissatisfaction with HIS methods and ask HIM to help me accept HIS ways. I can then be righteous by confessing my sins to GOD.

Question: What am I supposed to be doing right now? What’s my purpose?

¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

My feet provide motion so I must take the first step in sharing the great news about JESUS without shame. I will also remember that sharing isn’t force feeding rather loving others.

Question: Why are things going wrong in my life?

¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Sometimes I overlook the fact that someone or something is messin’ with me. Satan wants me to fail so of course roadblocks to GODLY success will be put in my way. I have to reach out to GOD to get the faith that is ALREADY there and use it against Satan’s attacks.

Question: What about me? Can things get better for me?

¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

It’s up to me to accept JESUS as GOD who died in my place then after belief I must understand GOD and how HE behaves so that through mimicking HIM I can reap earthly and eternal benefits. This requires reading HIS Bible.

Question: What should I pray for? How should I pray?

 ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

There is no right way to pray. Liturgical is prayer passed down by the ages, spontaneous is prayer thought up on the spot, intercessory is prayer for others, introspective is prayer for me. Kneeling, sitting, standing, singing, crying, dying are all acceptable for prayer to GOD!