April 5, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, rather- expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” (Ephesians 5.10-12)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Have you heard the one about the preacher who walked into a bar? He collided with it because he was “narrow-minded.” I won’t wait for a rim shot because too many will probably not understand what was just said and that is fine. For many, the focus was on the question far longer than it was on the answer. How many people in the world are just waiting to level some kind of accusation against preachers? Whether they deserve it or not, preachers catch a lot of flack from those who believe having a Christian faith is like wearing a sign saying “I am perfect.” Nothing could be further from the truth. There has only be one “perfect” person to walk on the face of the earth. Jesus of Nazareth, He who was, is and will forever be without sin. Yet, He was made perfect by taking on the righteousness of God. Even on the cross of Calvary’s Hill, Golgotha, where Jesus took on Himself all the sins of the world past, present and future (yes, He sees everything we will do) so that we might “die to sin but live in Christ,” He remained perfect while appearing to be anything but. And for those who have read or heard the gospel story of Jesus’ life, you would be aware of the accusations leveled against Jesus, “a preacher from Nazareth, a place where it was doubted that anything good could come from.” Mostly, the accusations were about the people He hung out with: Galileans, fishermen, sinners (prostitutes, whores, thieves, extortioners, tax collectors, liars, murderers, insurrectionists, etc), Samaritans, Romans and the list goes on. He was tainted and guilty by association.

Still, Paul brings to “light” the wise counsel for those who were of the Community of Faith in Jesus as the Christ founded in Ephesus, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (5.11) The believers were to bring the light of truth (faith, hope and love) into the places of darkness. They were meant to be like lit candles walking into a dark room. Their presence there would be an illumination and expose what was happening in the shadows of hearts, minds, body and spirit. Just because they were in a place of such “darkness” didn’t mean they had to participate in those activities. Their presence and the full word of faith they would bring was to be a witness of a better way of life. It wasn’t about condemning the wrong but empowering the right. It wasn’t about speaking against the darkness as it was more about speaking for the light. It wasn’t about treating others as if their vision was night as it was an invitation to restore their sight. The ramifications of such truth is revolutionary. It fulfills the call Jesus had upon His own life “I have come to seek and save that which is lost” or “The well have no need for a doctor; I have come to minister to the sick and the destitute.” Jesus stepped into the darkness of life to bring to light the hope of salvation which God intends for all people.

And if we do not live our “light” shining at all times, then it becomes more convenient for the dark to believe it can overcome us with words of derision, doubt, fear, anxiety, gossip, accusations and inuendoes. Strange how we as a people are so given to the violence of confrontation. Today we see the fruit of darkness as murder has been tolerated, engaged and empowered to be the “problem solution” of choice. But, as we know and as we will read soon, “We do not battle against flesh and blood but…against the powers of darkness….” (Ephesians 6.12c) Well, that is those believers who enter into the fray of redeeming that which is lost by confronting the darkness with the truth of authentic worship and service. I would continue to ask the leadership of Israel how they are “walking by light and not by the darkness of their own entitlement.” Even if they do not believe that Jesus of Nazareth was real or was the Christ, the very Word of God commands that they walk by faith in Him and not by the sight of their own making. Israel was called to be “a light to the world including the Gentiles” that they might know God. Yet, what kind of light was Israel? It has had its few shining moments. Those shining moments, however, are surrounded by darkness and an ever increasing gloom of doubt, fear, anger, hatred and bitterness. Has God said to them in faith “go and do violence”? Has God commanded them to “steal vengeance from My Hand and do it for yourselves”? Has God declared “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind leaning not on your own understanding”? Yes, living in this world verges on the impossible when the standard of living is of our own making instead of choosing to live according to His Word as found in the Law, the Prophets and the wisdom of priests and shepherds. And trust me, mighty ones of God, those same instructions for righteous living belong to us as well. Jesus taught “I have not come to do away with the Law nor to destroy it. Rather, I have come to fulfill the Law so that righteousness will be known as valid and real.”

The ultimate fulfillment of the Law, the Prophets, the Wisdom writings and songs came at Calvary. It was on Golgotha’s Hill that Jesus truly stepped into the darkness. He had, in that moment, become like one of us could be. By His desire and faithfulness to God, He brought to light the promise of God that all who would believe would be saved. It was brought to light in the dialogue between Jesus and the penitent thief. We do not know his name because he could be any of us. By equal and sad measure, the impenitent thief is without name for the same reason. The three crosses example the whole scope of life on earth from the profound to the profane with the sublime centered between them. They are the posits to His mid-line. Jesus hung between Heaven and earth as well as between righteousness and unrighteousness. The epitome of the gospel was revealed in those moments. The testimony of authenticity was uttered by a Roman Centurion posted as guard to oversee the death of the three criminals. In the moment when Jesus breathed His last, the Centurion as no other, declared “Surely this man was the Son of God.” In the world’s darkest hour, the light of truth was evident. On the third day it became transformative driving the darkness of doubt away, recovering the sight of those blinded by grief and bringing glory to bear as witness against the lies of the enemy.

Referring to the first lines of this reflection, let me offer that Jesus, the preacher from Nazareth, set the bar high. For Jesus it was nothing to “walk into a bar” whether it stood as a post in the middle of the road or an outpost alongside the road. Wherever He was, the light of truth (faith, hope and love) abounded and hope was brought forth in their darkness. He did not become like them because He was among them. He was among them so they could become like Him. It was at the cross He was among us but now He is not there, nor are we. He has died for our sins that we might have the hope of life restored. He was raised from the dead, so that we might receive His Spirit of life forevermore. Don’t succumb to the depravity of the world. Instead, cling to the glory of His Kingdom which is not of this world in which the light of truth shines in the darkness which shall never overcome it.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit spoke us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.