Ephesians 5:11-14

Ephesians 5:11-14

And do not join in fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness – but rather, expose them!  For it is shameful to even speak about the things that become in secret by them.  But all things that have been exposed by the light are being made visible, for each thing that is being made visible is light.  Therefore it says, “Wake, the one who sleeps, and be raised up out of the dead and Christ will shine for you.” 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Notice again that Paul continues to speak of light and to do so in the particular manner that we saw yesterday.  Paul doesn’t say that those things that become visible are in the light.  He literally says that everything that is made visible is light.  We do not just enter into God’s presence; we literally become God’s presence.  God dwells with us.  The promise is so much greater than having God within us.  We are literally one with God.  That is the promise of God to which we gain access in Jesus Christ.

Do you believe this promise for yourself?  Do you see yourself as not just being in the presence of God, but actually being one with God?  In what ways is this difficult to believe?

Second Thought:

Going back to the beginning of the passage, let’s look at the exhortation that Paul gives.  “Do not join in fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness!”  Just don’t go there!  I know, that is easier said than done.  Even as I type those words, I convict myself.  The good news is that God also knows this.  This is why He allows us to repent and receive forgiveness.  That being said, Paul’s advice is still sound.  If we just don’t go into the ways of darkness then we’ll be much better off!  If we expose our sinfulness to those who can hold us accountable and help us through it, we will be far more equipped to defeat the darkness within.

Where do you struggle the most with the unfruitful works of darkness?  What helps you best in your fight to resist those unfruitful behaviors?

Third Thought:

The promise in the last verse of this section is great.  Notice the truth it proclaims.  We are “asleep.”  Sleep is often an analogy for death.  This is why the quote then goes on to say, “be raised up out of the dead.”  We are by default spiritually dead.  Our default position in this world is not to be alive in God.  Therefore, it is important for us to come to God and “wake up.”  It is up to us to embrace God’s offer of grace and rise up out of our spiritual death into spiritual life.  Of course, we know that this starts with God because the Bible says, “be raised up” and not “rise up.”  To say that we are raised up implies that someone else does the raising.  God saves us.  God raises us up.  We simply embrace what He is doing.

How readily do you embrace what God offers?  When is it easy to be raised up out of sin?  When can it be difficult to be raised up out of our sin?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 5:15-21