Lenton Bible Reading: Week 3, Tuesday

During the season of Lent, I am attempting to follow a Bible reading plan and offer reflection on the Scripture text.  Unfortunately, I'm not doing so well at making this a daily practice!  Today's reading is from Tuesday in the 3rd week of Lent.  I welcome feedback.  What are these Scriptures saying to you?

 

Ephesians 5:6-20 New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.  ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:
   “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

 ¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Notice how many words are being thrown around these days?  Look at how many millions of postings are on Facebook every minute.  How many tweets are broadcast per second.  How many Google searches are done in a millisecond.  And this is only a fraction of online stuff - without even mentioning the stuff that still goes on offline!  (Yes, there is still a real world out there!!)

 

How many of those countless millions or billions of words from all sources that potentially bombard us every moment we're awake are empty?  Deceptive?  I don't think the Apostle Paul had any clue just how relevant his 1st century words would be for us 21st century readers.  But they are!  We live in a world that attempts to obfuscate the truth.  To twist the meaning of words so that what was once thought to be good is now bad, and vice versa.  

 

How many concepts from Scripture are now being challenged as incompatible with modern life?  Live for others?  No way!  Live for yourself!  Get all the pleasure you can - and it doesn't matter what consequences may come upon others for your choices.  Or, in another twist of the truth: Stop taking pleasures in life, don't do anything fun.  You should be miserable because so many other people are miserable.

 

But Paul is saying to be careful how you live - wisely rather than foolishly.  Both extremes above are foolish.  Neither make the most of every opportunity.  What is the opportunity?  To demonstrate to others that what we do as Christians is different because Jesus is making a difference in us!

 

Which begs the question: Can people see a difference in your life because of Jesus?  Does your life reflect the Light of Christ?  Or are you still sleeping - spiritually dead - even though you've claimed the name "Christian" for yourself?

 

Don't be surprised when who you are is exposed.  Eventually, everything we do will come into the light.  Therefore, do the things that won't be shameful when the exposure comes.  One of my favorite quotes (unfortunately, I don't know who originally said it) is this:

 

"Live each day so that you will neither be afraid of tomorrow nor ashamed of yesterday."

We can do that when we do that in the strength of Jesus, relying on Him, and giving thanks to God in all circumstances.  So today, let's do it!