Devotional #4 - EXPOSING DARKNESS

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DAY 4: EXPOSING DARKNESS

 

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Ephesians 5:11-14, ESV

 

There is nothing worse than living in darkness as a believer. This is where guilt and shame grow. In the crevasses of our character and conduct.

 

The Christian must do the work of Christian living in the daylight. Weeds of darkness will grow and choke out all that’s good and godly in our lives if we don’t expose the darkness in our own lives. We are designed for sunshine. We grow in the light.

 

The apostle Paul calls for the church to expose the things that are in the dark. Specifically, he addressed sexual immorality, crude and rude language, gossips and slanderers, drunkenness, envy, etc. 

 

Today we are challenged not simply to not take any part of these works of darkness, but to expose them. As light shines, it naturally exposes whatever is in the darkness. You are being challenged today to allow God’s word and spirit to bring exposure in two areas: yourself and others. What? Yep!

 

In yourself, you want to ask God to search your heart, and help you to identify what’s not pleasing to him, and to help you live for him. He will help you. Be open and honest. (Psalm 139:24). If someone had all your pass codes, would you be ok with that? If someone monitored everything you viewed online, would you be ok with that?

 

In others, you need to be sure to take the log out of your own eye, (Luke 6:42) . You can’t try to confront some on an issue when you are twice the hypocrite. No one is perfect. A hypocrite is someone who doesn’t practice what they preach, a person who wears a mask, pretends to be some they are not. Don’t be that guy. Period. You can’t confront others if that’s you. If you do confront a person, do it with the intention to build them up, not break them down. Secondly, you don’t need to try to confront un-believers on moral issues, because they are not being held to Bible as the foundation of morals or ethics in the same way as believers. It’s unfair and not realistic.

 

Pick the right place and time for confrontations; for example, confronting your spouse in front of the kids sends a message the marriage is divided. If you confront an employee in front of others, it can create more damage and foster gossip. Ask yourself is this right time, the place, around the right people. Confronting another Christian isn’t easy, but it is helpful. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” Proverbs 27:6, ESV

 

So, today, be brave. Expose the darkness, in yourself and in others if you need to. As Christians we shouldn’t have to fear or hide if we are living in the light.