Verse of the Day 1/11

Ephesians 5:11 (NLT)  Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

 

Today's verse is a challenging one for today's politically correct society, where everyone not only has the right to their own opinion, but you are expected to accept their opinion as being right.  It challenges us to do the right thing and not to take part or get sucked into the dangers out there that are thought of as freedoms. 

 

We are not just to sit back or stand idly on the sideline.  The verse tells us that we are to expose things to show, to reveal what they truly are and what they lead to.

 

In a sermon on this verse, John Piper states, "God calls his people to be the conscience of the culture. Our individual conscience probes into our behavior and either approves or disapproves what we do. So the children of light are to probe into the life of their culture and approve or disapprove what it does.

I hope you hear the force of this. It is radically different from the passivity and moral withdrawal of many Christians. Many believers have a passive avoidance ethic and that is all. In other words they think: if I avoid the works of darkness, and don't do them myself, then I am doing my Christian duty. I'm clean. I'm in the light. But that is not what verse 11 says. It says you are only doing half your duty. "Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness"—that's an avoidance ethic. That's half your duty. But it goes on, and in fact puts stress on the next phrase because it is easily overlooked and because it can be very costly: "Rather even expose them!" Don't just avoid the works of darkness, EXPOSE them. This is not avoidance. This is action."

It is a call to action.  Has something been on your heart, something that is just not right?  It may be abortion, alcohol, drugs, sexual "freedom" or any number of things.  We are called to expose them for what they are, they are not harmless, they destroy lives.

 

The Message (below) says "don't waste your time" , instead make the most of your time.  These are desperate times and call for desperate measures.   A good book on this topic as a lifestyle is "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Ephesians 5:11 (MSG)

 ^11-16Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. 

   Wake up from your sleep, 
   Climb out of your coffins; 
   Christ will show you the light!
So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!