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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:8-10, 13-14
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
Before a person comes to believe in Christ, they are a sinner on the road to eternal damnation and torment. They are considered by God to be His enemy and nothing about their way of living is pleasing in His sight. This is what the scriptures refer to as the “old self”, the person a Christian used to be before they chose to believe in Jesus as Savior.
Looking at our scripture passage today, which provides the framework for this latest message on the qualities of a new self, we see where a person without Christ is abiding in darkness. It’s an image of gloom and sadness even though a sinner in the world usually thinks they are fine. Feeling permitted to do whatever they want, life seems great as they chase after whatever they desire. Living becomes defined by carrying out their own will.
This is where a person is, immersed in the darkness of iniquity, until they decide to come to Jesus. Thank goodness there is another option “for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Indeed, Jesus changed everything and now those who has walked in darkness could come into relationship with the One who was a great Light (Isaiah 9:2), the Christ who proclaimed Himself as the Light (John 14:6). This means that Christians are truly “light in the Lord” because they are in and of Christ and this carries with it great responsibility as a person puts on their new self.
What is that responsibility?
The scriptures tell us that all Jesus believers are to “live as children of light”, a lifestyle that produces the following fruits: goodness, righteousness and truth. These qualities defined who Jesus was and they will define anyone who chooses to follow His lead and live as He did. In other words, a person will know they have really put on a new self when their life mimics the life of Jesus. They will then be children of light.
They will also know that their life is one that is pleasing to God because everything about Jesus was pleasing to His Father. You may recall how God testified about His feelings for His Son when He said this after Jesus was baptized:
“This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
Putting on a new self means putting on the life of Christ and walking in His light while displaying goodness, righteousness, and truth in every thought, word, or deed. As Christians, we are expected to live in no other way.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com
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