Dark & Light - Eph 5:1-14
"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2
"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2
I have a little boy who is about to turn four. He loves his two younger sisters, but I learn exactly what kind of parent I am when I hear him reprimand his two year old sister. He imitates exactly what he has seen and heard! As imperfectly as I parent, our God is absolutely perfect and wants us to learn from and imitate Him!
He tells us what that doesn't look like. We can summarize it in how we act: no sexual immorality, any impurity, or greed. And how we talk: no obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking. Sure, it can be easy to justify some of these, especially in little ways, but God is serious about them. We are without excuse. We should know God and His word well enough that we aren't deceived and listen to "empty words" instead of His full word.
All of that living is darkness, and Paul is clear that darkness will be exposed. Our sin will be exposed one day for what it truly is. Paul implores us: "Live as children of light...have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them" (v. 8, 11). Remember how we're supposed to speak the truth in love? This is the time to do it; when you see darkness being lived out, especially in your church family.
Be encouraged: shining light onto darkness is an opportunity for it to be changed to light (v. 13). Our God is the God of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Darkness being exposed is an opportunity for His goodness to be seen. Pray:
Father, Thank You for the perfect example You have given us in Your sacrifice to send Your Son and His perfect example of love for others and sacrifice for You. Strengthen us to live as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to You. Amen.
Challenge:
Consider what it would look like to approach a fellow believer about sin in their life. What would speaking truth with love and exposing darkness look like? Turn it around on yourself. Honestly, are you willing to hear your own sinfulness exposed? What would a godly response look like, if turning it to light is the desired outcome?
CLIMB DAY 10
Finally! Today's the day! Months of hard work, planning, preparation, self-control and perseverance are rewarded. But there is a long, steep path before our team reaches the goal: Mt. Kilimanjaro's summit atop Kibo, Uhuru Peak.
By the end of today our team will have hiked 13 miles - a half-marathon - up to the summit and then half-way down the mountain. The trek to the summit will take at least 7 hours, and probably more. Our team is equipped with head-lamps, necessary to cover the steep, rocky terrain in the midnight darkness. Although the stars are more numerous than you or I have ever seen, it's doubtful our team will take much notice as they are expending every ounce of their energy to keep moving forward and not listen to themselves. It is during this first half of the trek to the summit that every climber admits they plead with themselves to turn around and give up. If they persevere, our team will reach Stella Point and rest. Here, watching the magnificent sunrise over the rim of Kibo's crater, sweet rays shining on the summit bolster their determination to continue.
From Stella Point to Uhuru Peak it is a relatively short one hour trek. If they lift their heads to notice, our climbers will experience views of glacial formations of which few others can boast. However, their eyes are not likely to leave the ridge of the rim, which will lead them to the summit. A few steep slopes, rocky terrain and narrow passes and they have arrived. Filled with joy, relief, and a feeling of finality, our climbers present their greatest but exhausted smiles. They won't stay long, just long enough to soak in the beauty of our Creator from the highest point in Africa, and to take a few pictures. Then they begin their trek down, descending almost 13500 feet to their final camp on the mountain, Mweka Camp.
Pray for perseverance and determination to finish. Pray that their bodies and minds will handle the altitude, frigid temperatures, and darkness well. Pray they speak wise words, including Scripture, to themselves to persevere. Pray for safe passage, especially in the dark, up and down the mountain. Pray specifically for Cheryl's lung function.
He tells us what that doesn't look like. We can summarize it in how we act: no sexual immorality, any impurity, or greed. And how we talk: no obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking. Sure, it can be easy to justify some of these, especially in little ways, but God is serious about them. We are without excuse. We should know God and His word well enough that we aren't deceived and listen to "empty words" instead of His full word.
All of that living is darkness, and Paul is clear that darkness will be exposed. Our sin will be exposed one day for what it truly is. Paul implores us: "Live as children of light...have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them" (v. 8, 11). Remember how we're supposed to speak the truth in love? This is the time to do it; when you see darkness being lived out, especially in your church family.
Be encouraged: shining light onto darkness is an opportunity for it to be changed to light (v. 13). Our God is the God of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Darkness being exposed is an opportunity for His goodness to be seen. Pray:
Father, Thank You for the perfect example You have given us in Your sacrifice to send Your Son and His perfect example of love for others and sacrifice for You. Strengthen us to live as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to You. Amen.
Challenge:
Consider what it would look like to approach a fellow believer about sin in their life. What would speaking truth with love and exposing darkness look like? Turn it around on yourself. Honestly, are you willing to hear your own sinfulness exposed? What would a godly response look like, if turning it to light is the desired outcome?
CLIMB DAY 10
Finally! Today's the day! Months of hard work, planning, preparation, self-control and perseverance are rewarded. But there is a long, steep path before our team reaches the goal: Mt. Kilimanjaro's summit atop Kibo, Uhuru Peak.
By the end of today our team will have hiked 13 miles - a half-marathon - up to the summit and then half-way down the mountain. The trek to the summit will take at least 7 hours, and probably more. Our team is equipped with head-lamps, necessary to cover the steep, rocky terrain in the midnight darkness. Although the stars are more numerous than you or I have ever seen, it's doubtful our team will take much notice as they are expending every ounce of their energy to keep moving forward and not listen to themselves. It is during this first half of the trek to the summit that every climber admits they plead with themselves to turn around and give up. If they persevere, our team will reach Stella Point and rest. Here, watching the magnificent sunrise over the rim of Kibo's crater, sweet rays shining on the summit bolster their determination to continue.
From Stella Point to Uhuru Peak it is a relatively short one hour trek. If they lift their heads to notice, our climbers will experience views of glacial formations of which few others can boast. However, their eyes are not likely to leave the ridge of the rim, which will lead them to the summit. A few steep slopes, rocky terrain and narrow passes and they have arrived. Filled with joy, relief, and a feeling of finality, our climbers present their greatest but exhausted smiles. They won't stay long, just long enough to soak in the beauty of our Creator from the highest point in Africa, and to take a few pictures. Then they begin their trek down, descending almost 13500 feet to their final camp on the mountain, Mweka Camp.
Pray for perseverance and determination to finish. Pray that their bodies and minds will handle the altitude, frigid temperatures, and darkness well. Pray they speak wise words, including Scripture, to themselves to persevere. Pray for safe passage, especially in the dark, up and down the mountain. Pray specifically for Cheryl's lung function.