Growing Together: Let the Light Awaken You
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Building Together: “Let the Light get in!” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 5:8 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 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Have you ever been awakened by the light of the morning?
When a room is dark, it is easy to stay in bed. The darkness makes everything feel quiet and comfortable. Then the sun comes through the window. Suddenly you can see. The day has begun. The light awakens you and calls you to get up and live.
Paul uses a similar picture in Ephesians 5. He says, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”
Notice that Paul does not say, “You were walking in darkness, but now you have learned how to walk in the light.” He says something much stronger. You were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
This is about more than behavior. It is about identity.
Apart from Christ, we are sinners living in darkness. Sin affects what we think, what we desire, and how we see God and others. We cannot simply educate ourselves out of sin or work hard enough to make ourselves spiritually alive.
But God does what we cannot do.
He brings us into the light through Christ.
Colossians 1:13 says that God “has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Through Jesus, we have been rescued. Through baptism and faith, we have been united with Christ. Our sins are forgiven. We have been given a new identity.
That changes how we respond when God’s Word exposes sin in our lives.
Sometimes we don’t want the light. We would rather keep certain things hidden. We would rather avoid admitting our selfishness, our bitterness, our lust, our pride, or our anger.
But God’s light does not expose our sin to destroy us. It exposes our sin so that we can bring it to Jesus.
Think about a doctor examining a wound. The doctor may need to expose something that is painful or unpleasant, but the purpose is healing. The problem cannot be treated if it remains hidden.
God’s Word works the same way. When it exposes our sin, it is doing the loving work of bringing us to repentance and pointing us to our Savior.
Romans 13:11 says, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber.” The Christian life is not about remaining asleep in old patterns of sin. Christ has awakened us to a new life.
So don’t run from the light today.
If God’s Word reveals something that needs to change, confess it. If you have hurt someone, seek forgiveness. If you have been walking in a sinful habit, turn away from it. If you have been hiding something, bring it into the light.
And then remember the most important truth: your sin does not have the final word. Jesus does.
At the cross, Jesus took your darkness upon Himself. He suffered for your sin and rose again so that you could live in His light.
You are not who you once were.
You are light in the Lord.
So wake up. Get up. Walk in the light Christ has given you!
Reflect: What is something in your life that God’s Word may be exposing that you have been tempted to keep hidden? How does knowing that Christ has forgiven you give you courage to bring your sin into the light?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the darkness of sin and bringing me into Your light. Forgive me for the times I have tried to hide my sin instead of bringing it to You. Give me courage to listen when Your Word exposes what needs to change in my life. Lead me to genuine repentance and assure me of Your complete forgiveness. Help me live as a child of light today. Let Your light shine through my words, my choices, and my relationships so that others may see Your grace. Amen.
Growing Together: Walk Carefully!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Building Together: “Let the Light get in!” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 5:15–16 “Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Have you ever tried walking somewhere in the dark without a flashlight? Even if you know the path, it is easy to stumble. You slow down. You reach out for something to guide you. You become much more aware of where you are putting your feet.
Paul uses that picture when he tells the Christians in Ephesus, “Be very careful, then, how you live.” The word translated “careful” carries the idea of looking carefully or paying close attention. Paul is reminding us that the Christian life is not something we simply stumble through.
We need to pay attention to where we are walking.
That does not mean living in fear that we might accidentally make God angry. For those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation. Jesus has already carried our guilt to the cross. Our salvation does not depend on how perfectly we walk.
Instead, Paul is reminding forgiven people to live like forgiven people.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” God has not left us to figure out life on our own. He gives us His Word to guide us.
That matters because we live in a world filled with distractions. There are countless voices telling us what to believe, how to live, what to value, and what will make us happy. If we simply follow whatever is loudest or most popular, we can easily wander away from God’s path.
Paul says, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Every day is an opportunity God has given you. Your time is an opportunity. Your relationships are opportunities. Your work is an opportunity. Your conversations are opportunities. Even difficult situations can become opportunities to reflect the grace of Christ.
Think about how differently you walk when you know there is something valuable on the other side of the room. You pay attention to where you step. You avoid obstacles. You keep moving toward your destination.
As Christians, we know where we are going. Christ has redeemed us and has promised us eternal life. That gives purpose to the way we live today.
So ask yourself, “How am I using the opportunities God has given me?”
Maybe God has placed someone in your life who needs encouragement. Maybe there is a relationship that needs attention. Maybe you have been given an opportunity to serve. Maybe there is a habit that needs to change. Maybe you simply need to slow down long enough to listen to someone who needs you.
Don’t rush past the opportunities God puts in your path.
Walk carefully. Walk wisely. Walk in the light of God’s Word.
And when you stumble, remember this: your Savior is not standing at the end of the path waiting to condemn you. He is the One who walks with you. He forgives your sins, strengthens your faith, and leads you by His Word.
You don’t walk carefully in order to become God’s child.
You walk carefully because, in Christ, you already are.
Reflect: Where in your life do you need to be more intentional about the way you are walking with Christ? What opportunity has God placed in front of you right now that you may be tempted to overlook?
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for giving me Your Word as a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. Forgive me for the times I have walked carelessly or followed my own wisdom instead of Yours. Help me recognize the opportunities You place before me each day. Give me wisdom to know how to use my time, relationships, abilities, and resources in ways that honor You and bless others. When I stumble, remind me of Your forgiveness in Christ and lead me back to Your path. Help me walk wisely as Your dearly loved child. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Growing Together: When Darkness Deceives
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Building Together: “Let the Light get in!” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 5:6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”
Darkness does more than make it difficult to see. It can make us believe things that are not true.
Have you ever driven at night in heavy rain? The road ahead can be difficult to see. A curve may appear farther away than it really is. A shadow can look like an object. The darkness and poor visibility can deceive you about what is actually in front of you.
Paul warns the Ephesians about another kind of deception. “Let no one deceive you with empty words.” There were people teaching ideas that made sinful behavior seem acceptable. They were offering words that sounded reasonable, perhaps even wise, but those words were empty because they led people away from God’s truth.
We face the same temptation today.
Our culture constantly tells us what is right, what is wrong, what will make us happy, and what we supposedly need. Sometimes those messages are obvious. Other times they sound very reasonable.
“Follow your heart.”
“Do whatever makes you happy.”
“You deserve this.”
“It’s your life. You can decide what is right for you.”
“Everyone is doing it.”
The problem is that our hearts are not always trustworthy guides. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” Sin doesn’t just tempt us to do wrong. It can convince us that wrong is right.
That is why we need God’s Word.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12.
Jesus does not simply give us better advice. He gives us Himself. He is the truth who enters our darkness and leads us into life.
Think about a flashlight in a dark room. You don’t turn it on because you enjoy seeing everything that is wrong with the room. You turn it on because you need to know where you are and where you are going.
God’s Word works the same way.
When Scripture confronts something in our lives, it is not God’s attempt to ruin our happiness. It is His loving work of showing us reality. His commands reveal the path that leads to life. His warnings keep us from paths that lead toward destruction. And when His Word reveals our sin, it leads us to the cross where Christ has already paid for it.
That means we don’t have to be afraid of the light.
Today, pay attention to the voices competing for your attention. Ask yourself whether they agree with God’s Word. When the world says one thing and Scripture says another, trust the voice of your Savior.
Darkness may deceive, but Christ does not.
His Word is truth. His promises are certain. His grace is real.
And when you walk in His light, you don’t have to wonder where you stand with God. You stand in Christ, forgiven and loved.
Reflect: What messages or ideas in our culture can make sin seem reasonable or harmless? Where do you need God’s Word to shine more clearly into your thinking or decisions right now?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, You are the light of the world. Forgive me for the times I have listened to voices that lead me away from Your truth. Forgive me when I have trusted my own heart more than Your Word. Give me wisdom to recognize deception and courage to reject what is false. Help me treasure Your Word and trust Your promises. When the world around me is confusing, keep my eyes fixed on You. Lead me out of darkness and into the light of Your grace and truth. Amen.
Growing Together: When Darkness Distorts
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Building Together: “Let the Light get in!” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 5:3–5; 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Darkness can make it difficult to see things clearly.
Have you ever walked through a dark room and mistaken one thing for another? A pile of clothes can look like a person. A shadow can look like an object. Without enough light, we can easily believe we are seeing something that isn’t really there.
Sin works much the same way.
God created many things that are good. He created marriage, sexuality, possessions, food, work, relationships, and pleasure. These are gifts from His gracious hand. But sin takes God’s good gifts and distorts them. It takes what God designed for our good and turns it toward ourselves.
That is what Paul is addressing in Ephesians 5. He warns God’s people about sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and even careless speech. These sins are not simply a list of bad behaviors. They reveal what happens when our hearts become focused on getting what we want instead of trusting what God has given.
Greed says, “I need more.”
Lust says, “I need this to satisfy me.”
Selfishness says, “I deserve to have things my way.”
Sin turns our eyes away from the Giver and toward the gift.
Psalm 51 reminds us why this happens. David confesses, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Sin is not merely something we occasionally do. It is a condition of our fallen hearts. Left to ourselves, we naturally turn away from God and toward ourselves.
That is why we need more than better behavior. We need a Savior.
Jesus came into our darkness. He took our sin upon Himself and carried it to the cross. The One who knew no sin became sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:2).
The light of God’s Word exposes our sin, but it does not expose us so that God can shame us. It exposes us so that He can lead us to repentance and forgiveness in Christ.
So when God’s Word reveals something in your life that needs to change, don’t hide from the light. Bring it into the light. Confess it. Trust the promise of Christ. Your sin is not too ugly for His grace.
Today, ask God to help you recognize where sin may be distorting something good in your life. Perhaps it is your use of money, your relationships, your sexuality, your desire for comfort, or your need to have things your way. Let God’s Word show you the truth, and then let the Gospel remind you that there is forgiveness in Jesus.
Christ does not leave us in the darkness.
He brings us into His light.
Reflect: What good gift from God are you most tempted to distort or use selfishly? How does knowing that Christ forgives your sin change the way you respond when God’s Word exposes something in your life?
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I confess that sin has distorted my heart and caused me to use Your good gifts selfishly. Forgive me for the times I have trusted Your gifts more than I have trusted You. Thank You for sending Jesus to carry my sin to the cross and to give me His righteousness. Help me welcome the light of Your Word, even when it exposes things I would rather hide. Lead me to repentance and strengthen my faith in Your forgiveness. Help me use Your good gifts in ways that honor You and bless others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Loving Together: Let Them See Christ
This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of Building Together: “Together is Tough!” (WATCH HERE)
John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
What do people see when they look at Christians?
They may see people gathering for worship. They may see Bibles, crosses, church buildings, and Christian symbols. They may hear us talk about Jesus. They may even know what we believe.
But Jesus says there is something else they should see.
They should see His love.
On the night before Jesus died, He told His disciples, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Then He added something remarkable: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Jesus connects our love for one another with our witness to the world.
That does not mean our love saves people. Jesus saves. Our good works do not earn forgiveness. Christ earned our forgiveness through His perfect life, innocent death, and victorious resurrection. Our love is not the Gospel itself, but it can point people toward the Savior who is.
Think about a stained glass window in a church. The window is not the light. The light comes from outside. But when the light shines through the glass, people can see something beautiful.
Our lives can be like that.
Christ is the source. His love shines into our hearts through His Word and Sacraments. His grace changes us. Then that love can shine through the way we treat people.
A neighbor may never read Ephesians 5, but they can see what happens when a Christian forgives. A coworker may never understand the doctrine of justification, but they can notice when a Christian responds to an insult with patience instead of anger. A friend may not know what Christians believe about grace, but they can experience grace when we serve them without expecting anything in return.
Sometimes the most powerful witness is simply loving someone when it would be easier not to.
That does not mean we will always get it right. We won’t. Christians still sin. We still become impatient. We still say things we regret. We still have difficult relationships.
But even there, the Gospel gives us another opportunity to point to Christ. We can admit when we are wrong. We can ask for forgiveness. We can forgive. We can begin again.
That is what grace looks like.
This week we have been reminded that we are dearly loved children of God. We have learned to see others differently because they are people Christ died for. We have considered what it means to love like Christ, even when together is tough.
Now we are reminded why it matters.
Our love can point people to Jesus.
So look around you today. Who needs to experience the love of Christ through you? Maybe it is a family member who needs patience. Maybe it is a coworker who needs encouragement. Maybe it is someone who has hurt you and needs forgiveness. Maybe it is a neighbor who simply needs someone to notice them.
Love them.
Not to earn God’s love.
Love them because you already have it.
And when people see that love, may they see something more than us. May they see Christ.
Reflect: What might the people around you learn about Jesus by watching the way you treat them? Who is one person you can intentionally love like Christ this week?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for loving me and giving Yourself for me. Thank You for making me Your child and covering me with Your grace. Help me live in such a way that others can see Your love through me. Give me opportunities to forgive, serve, encourage, listen, and show compassion. When I fail, lead me back to Your forgiveness and help me begin again. Use my life, imperfect as it is, to point others toward the perfect love You have shown us at the cross. May my words and actions give others a glimpse of You. In Your name I pray. Amen.