Ephesians 5: 11-13
I love working on my outdoor landscape. It's the time of the year when I'm finishing my planting of flowers, herbs, and ground covers. Something I always have to consider is how to align each plant with the right amount of light. Some plants prefer bright sun and can take the summer heat, while others need shade, and still others require a mix of sun and shade.
I'm experimenting with some pansies this year. My observation is that they wilt in the sun, but I read where they need even more sun than I was giving them in a part sun, part shade area. Though skeptical from experience, this year I have put them where they can receive maximum sunlight. We'll see how they respond, now that I have moved them from partial darkness to the fullest light.
The Apostle Paul told us in Ephesians that evil lurks in darkness, but we need to move ourselves into the light of Christ:
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible - and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
It's interesting that not only do our deeds become visible in the light, but that what is illuminated becomes a light itself. Light begets light. Everything the light touches becomes transformed, even the darkness that was once within us.
Paul's words can be seen as a metaphor for confession and forgiveness. When we dredge up our darkness and drag it into the light of Jesus, He can wash us, heal us, forgive us, and turn that darkness to light.
This day, let us search for the darkness within ourselves, and bring it into the light of Christ, so we can become something better.
I'm beyond excited about my new podcast series, "The Top 11 Themes of Jesus." Through the next 11 months, I'll be exploring the Gospels for the most common themes of Jesus by volume. Not only will I share scripture, but I'll be interviewing various experts on the theme.
In May's kickoff podcast, I'm studying theme #11, Evil Exists in the World. I'm joined by Minister Charlotte Jewell Mays, who wrote a book on how evil impacted her family and how parents of prodigals can live in victory. Please check out the podcast by searching on Apple, Spotify, or Podbean for "Cecil Taylor Monthly Podcasts." Or visit CecilTaylorMinistries.com/free-content .
Comments