Light-filled Lives

"The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

Romans 13:12

The time for salvation is running out. When Christ the Messiah came He ushered in the light, and all those who have received Him as Lord and Savior live in that light. But unbelievers still live in darkness and need to see the Light we possess. It is up to us to live in such a way that they see the Light. When people meet us, talk to us, spend time with us, they should notice something very different about our lives. Perhaps it's time for us to examine ourselves and ask the Lord to reveal to us where we are living outside His will (2 Corinthians 13:5), and therefore may be a stumbling block to those who have not yet come to Christ. In the power of the Holy Spirit we can live Light-filled lives. We can lay aside the darkness of sin and shine with the pure light of Christ that covers us.  

The Joy of Obedience

"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; 
just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 
These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, 
and that your joy may be made full."

John 15:9-11

In response to His Father's love Jesus carried out His Father's will. In the same way, if we love Jesus our response should be to do His will; to abide -- or remain -- in His love by obeying Him.   1 John 5:3-4 tells us: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." The world considers God's commandments to be burdensome because it doesn't abide in His love, nor have the faith needed to walk victoriously in obedience to His word. Jesus has told us to abide in His love and obey Him by faith so that His joy may be in us. And when His joy is in us our joy is complete.

Radically Transformed

"for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 

trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:8-10

Christians don't need to dwell on what they were before they came to Christ. We are no longer the embodiment of darkness, now we are bright shining lights, just as the Lord is a Shining Light. However, remembering the darkness from which we came does help us to live in thankfulness, with a desire to please the One who gave His life so that we could become "children of Light". "Paul’s argument is based upon a fundamental premise: Christians have undergone a dramatic transformation which is here described as having been transformed from darkness to light. In the Bible, salvation is never spoken of as a trivial matter. Those who are saved by faith in Christ are not merely improved, they are radically transformed. They have been delivered from death and given eternal life and have been saved from a life of sin to a new life which is characterized by good works (Ephesians 2:1-10." (Bob Deffinbaugh)

How We Ought to Walk

"the one who says he abides in Him ought himself 

to walk in the same manner as He walked."

1 John 2:6

Have you ever known someone who professed to know Christ as their Savior, yet lived in total disobedience to the word of God? Now it's not up to you or me to pass judgment on another person's faith. God will do that and believe me He's much better at it than we could ever hope to be. He can see right into the heart of a person. Saved or unsaved. We can never hide from God what we really believe or who we really are. He knows. Having said that, God's word is absolutely clear on how one who claims to "abide in Christ" -- who claims to be a Christian -- will behave. He or she will "walk in the same manner as [Jesus] walked."  And how did Jesus walk? He walked in submission to the Father. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." Christians will never walk perfectly -- as Jesus our Savior walked perfectly -- as long as they are on this earth, but they ought to have the desire to do so. And when they don't they ought to feel convicted. That is the work of the Holy Spirit within. He plants the desire in us to walk in obedience and when we don't He convicts us of our sin. And when we feel convicted we ought to confess our sin to the Lord and ask for forgiveness, and ask for His help to walk in obedience. If we belong to Christ, our greatest desire will be to love Him. And we show our love by following Him in thought, word and deed. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" -- Jesus Christ (John 14:15).

Love = Obedience

"And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments."

2 John 1:6

The evidence of our love for God is our obedience. If we truly love Him, then we will want to please Him and honor Him by walking according to what He commands us in the Bible. Love should be our motivation. "The difficulty that you feel is that you do not love enough. You would like to love with a strong, undying flame, burning steadily towards Jesus Christ, cleansing you with its heat, constraining you with its love. But perhaps you fail to distinguish between love and the emotion of love. They are not the same. We may love without being directly conscious of love, or being able to estimate its strength and passion. Here is the solution to many of our questionings: They love who obey." (F.B.Meyer)

Exposed by the Light

"Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 

for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things 

which are done by them in secret."

Ephesians 5:11-12

As Christians, we have a responsibility to lead the lost to our Savior. Of course we should share the good news of the gospel in words, but our words will have little effect if our behavior is no different from those to whom we are witnessing. We should live our lives in such obedience to Christ that His light of truth shines through us and convicts those who don't yet know Him of their own sinful condition. Pastor Steven Cole gives a wonderful illustration of exposing the darkness: "Living in Flagstaff, where it’s cold in the winter with lots of snow, our cars get caked with the salt and grime from the roads, so that after a few weeks of regular snowstorms, they look pretty bad. But, everyone else’s car looks as bad as mine, so I don’t think much about it. But, if I have to drive down to Phoenix, where it’s warm and sunny, I am suddenly surrounded by clean cars! Those clean cars expose the filthiness of my car and make me want to go straight to a car wash. Our clean lives expose the sin of unbelievers’ lives. As God works in their hearts, it often drives them to get their sins washed at the cross." 

As Noah Walked

"Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God."

Genesis 6:9

In the midst of a decaying culture so violent God had determined to destroy it with a great flood, one man stood out. A godly man. A man who didn't follow the crowd. A man who walked through his life with God. His name was Noah. Imagine the pressure society placed on Noah to conform. He was probably labeled a Goody Two-Shoes, Holier Than Thou Believer by his neighbors. Perhaps he was called ignorant by the enlightened thinkers of his day. Or maybe the community just considered him a religious nut to be avoided. No matter how Noah was treated by others, he didn't cave in to popular opinion. He was a man of faith and obedience. He took God at His word and did all God told him to do. His faith and obedience were rewarded. God spared Noah and his family in the ark Noah built. Lest we think Noah's life and story have no bearing on us today, consider Jesus' words in Matthew 24: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be." Jesus is speaking of His second coming. We don't when this will occur, but it could be in our lifetime. May we never walk like those who "did not understand until the flood came and took them all away." Instead, may we walk as Noah walked: with God in faith and obedience.

Always Obedient

And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”

Luke 2:21-24

Our Lord Jesus was not born into sin. He did not need circumcision nor redemption according to the Law. But in everything Mary and Joseph were obedient; from the naming of Jesus according to the angel's instructions, to the following of the Mosaic Law. Jesus was born into a Law abiding home (Galatians 4:4). He would be brought up to obey God's word, and in all things He would remain blameless. "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)

The Shepherds' Reward

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 

Luke 2:15-16

As soon as the heavenly messengers left, the shepherds rushed to Bethlehem and sought the Lord Jesus. Even though the hour was late, they did not delay. They went in faith, believing God's message that they would "see this thing that has happened". Their obedience and faith were rewarded: they were the first visitors of the nativity and the first believers to worship the Lord. Faithful, unhesitating obedience to God brings certain reward. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

No Indeed

"And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, 'No indeed; but he shall be called John.' And they said to her, 'There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.'” 

Luke 1:59-61

In the Israelite culture, the name of a child was quite significant. The naming of a son after his father implied that the child would follow in the steps of his father, that he would carry on the father’s name and also his work. If John had been named Zacharias, he would have been expected to grow up as a priest, just like his father. But this was not to be John's future. He would not follow in his father's footsteps. He would prepare the way for the Messiah. Those attending the circumcision made assumptions about the proper name for the baby. But Elizabeth -- obedient to the Lord --  stood up to them and made a declaration. "He shall be called John." Sometimes other people try to give us advice. If it's contrary to God's will, we should say, "No indeed," and obey the Lord.

My Father's Business

And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

Luke 2:49

In Luke's account of Mary and Joseph finding Jesus in the Jerusalem temple, we get our first glimpse of why Jesus came to earth. He must be about His Father's business. On those particular days while His parents searched for Him, Jesus was "sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions" (Luke 2:46). That was His Father's business. But it was also His Father's business that Jesus should be submissive to Mary and Joseph. "And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them" (Luke 2:51). Eighteen years later, Jesus would begin His public ministry. More of His Father's business. Whether Jesus was in the temple, at home with His parents, or performing miracles and revealing His Father to the people, He was dong His Father's will. We don't have to be on the church staff, or in the mission field to be about our Heavenly Father's business. Even the most common task we perform is serving the Father, if we do it with Him in mind and for His glory.

Spirit Over Mind

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,"

2 Corinthians 10:5

Obedience to Christ begins in the mind. To live a life that pleases Him, we must make the decision to accept His teaching and conform every thought to His. This demands a constant yielding of our will to the Holy Spirit. When a sinful thought (a thought that gratifies self) enters our mind, we are to give it over to Christ and allow Him to give us His thought (a thought that glorifies God) in its place. This isn't mind over matter. It's Spirit over mind. 

Missing God's Best

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going."

Hebrews 11:8

What if Abraham had not obeyed God? What if he had refused to leave everything familiar to him -- home, family, lifestyle? We can only speculate what would have become of Abraham if he had said "no" when God said "go", but most likely God would have chosen someone else to be the father of a great nation. Abraham would have missed God's best for himself. Not all of us, like Abraham, are called by God to go to a strange land. Sometimes He calls us just to go across the street, yet we say "no". "No, Lord, I'm too busy right now. I'll go later." Maybe there's nothing across the street that God wants us to do at that moment except just go there. Maybe it's just a step of obedience He wants from us. But maybe, just maybe, there  is something more. And by not saying "Yes, Lord, I'll go right now", we miss God's best for us. 

For Such a Time as This

"And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?"

Esther 4:14b

In the Book of Esther we find a woman who risks her life to save her people from extermination. Mordecai has urged Queen Esther to go to the king and plead for the lives of the Jews. Even though she is the Queen, going before the King unannounced could result in death. At first Esther is reluctant, and who can blame her? But then she agrees to do as Mordecai requests, saying "if I die, I die." The result is the salvation of all the Jews, including Esther. We often don't know why we're in a certain place at a certain time, and it may be that God has us somewhere that we really don't like. It could be a certain city, or job, or with a particular group of people. But what if God has positioned us there for a particular purpose, to accomplish something important for Him? It takes courage to look past our circumstances and submit to God's unseen plan, but if we only see the place where He has us as a burden and annoyance —something from which we wish to escape— we may miss what God has already prepared "for such a time as this." 

The Uncomfortable Zone

Now the LORD said to Abram,

         "Go forth from your country,

         And from your relatives

         And from your father's house,

         To the land which I will show you; 

    And I will make you a great nation,

         And I will bless you,

         And make your name great;

         And so you shall be a blessing;"

Genesis 12:1-2

"That's out of my comfort zone." How often have we heard that phrase or used it ourselves in the face of a new challenge? God certainly called Abraham out of his comfort zone; away from his relatives, his home and his country into a strange land. He made him a promise that would only be fulfilled if Abraham had the courage to leave everything he had known for 75 years. If Abraham had said no to God, he would have missed out on incredible blessings.  Because of his obedience, Abraham became the father of a great nation and from his seed came the Messiah. Are you hesitating to go somewhere or do something for God because it's out of your comfort zone?  Don't miss God's blessing. Consider the journey of Abraham and step into that uncomfortable zone. 

An Obedient Servant

But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

Matthew 1:20-21

The Bible tells us that Joseph was a descendant of David and a carpenter. Described as a "righteous" man, he kept the laws of God. He must have been compassionate and kind, as well. Betrothed to Mary, who is carrying a child that is not his, he does not wish to disgrace her by making her condition known publicly. Then he is told by an angel in a dream that Mary's Child is the Son of God and that Joseph is to call Him Jesus. Little is spoken of Joseph after that, but his obedience to God and faithfulness in carrying out his fatherly responsibilities to the Messiah are a wonderful example to all of us. 

Powerful Words

"Your word I have treasured in my heart,
         That I may not sin against You."
Psalm 119:11

Those who love God want to live in obedience to Him.  God's word gives instructions on how to live in faithfulness to Him and has the power to transform us. When we value Bible verses and take them to heart, we are changed from the inside out.  As Christ was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, He used scripture to defeat him. "It is written. . .", He said. If they were important for Jesus, God in the flesh, to use against the enemy, think how much more important they are for us.

Instructions for the Heart

"The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;" Psalm 19:8

This is so simple. God's precepts for living are perfect. Those who follow them will rejoice. It's not complicated, so why do we make it so? Some people rip out the pages of the Bible they don't like, so to speak, but that doesn't make God's word any less authentic. They miss out on so much joy by refusing to accept God's principles and follow them. For your heart's sake, accept the Lord's instruction.

Step Out in Faith

"He who watches the wind will not sow 

and he who looks at the clouds will not reap." 

Ecclesiastes 11:4

If the farmer waits until there is no wind when he sows, nor storm clouds gathering when he reaps, he may never work the fields. In the same way, if we wait for the perfect circumstances before responding to God's call to serve Him, it's likely we never will. Instead of holding back when obstacles appear, we must step out in faith, trusting that the God who has called us to a task will remove anything in our way. When we do this, He gets the glory for the accomplished work and we have the joy of obedient living.

Submission Brings Joy

"The ordinances of the LORD are sure 

       and altogether righteous.

 They are more precious than gold, 

       than much pure gold; 

       they are sweeter than honey, 

       than honey from the comb.

 By them is your servant warned; 

       in keeping them there is great reward." Psalm 19:9b-11

Just as the heeding of traffic signs keeps us from danger, so obeying God's word keeps us from harm. When we ignore His instruction and make sinful choices, the consequences can cause us pain for the rest of our lives. How much better it is to comply and receive the great reward of joy that comes from submission.