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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 26, 2008 Once you were darkness |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, January 26, 2008 by Susan Hill
Ephesians 5: 8-14
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord, you are light. Live as children
of the light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right
and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the
unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even
to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light
becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it
says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Those of us who live in the northeast are experiencing the time of year when we get up, go to work in the dark, and then arrive home after work in the dark. Furthermore, schools, offices, and living spaces are sometimes enclosed, offering no exposure to the light even while the sun shines outside. It can be depressing!!
Some people even suffer physically from the absence of light in the winter months. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a condition whereby limited exposure to the light at this time of year may cause the body to produce insufficient amounts of the brain chemical serotonin. Therefore, people who experience SAD lose their abilities to enjoy life and to perform important daily tasks. Prescriptions for overcoming the effects of SAD include a healthy lifestyle – taking a daily walk during daytime hours to expose oneself to the light, eating a balanced diet, and paying attention to relationships – even seeking therapy when necessary.
The writer of Ephesians – even though he lived long ago and didn’t know the medical term “SAD” nor the nomenclature of brain chemicals – nevertheless, observed humanity’s negative reaction to too much darkness and compared life without God’s affirming word at the center to a hidebound immersion in darkness. He wrote that Christianity - rather than a platform for false doctrine or licentious practices - is a freeing and positive source for thanksgiving. Rejecting the confinement of anger, corruption, thievery, and bitterness that often overtakes human life but leads to death, the writer proclaimed that life in Christ is more like taking a walk in the sunshine and eating the right foods. It enlivens the human body, mind, and spirit, and leads one to joyous living.
Let’s face it … life is not a bowl of cherries, and there are plenty of down times to go around. But the writer is not talking about Christians avoiding SADness altogether. Rather, he encourages an understanding of what is at the heart of faith and life - the love of God for God’s people and the power of that love to nourish and sustain even in the midst of the hard, dark, confusing swirl of life that has confounded God’s people throughout time. God’s love in Christ is the light in the darkness – the source of health – the way, the truth, the light of life. This enlightening reality is the essence of the joy of Christian living. “Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light!” (The Message Bible, Ephesians 5:14)
Prayer: God of love, it is so easy for us to be distracted by evil, lies, and misnomers in our daily lives, and then we pay the price for our mistakes. Help us remember always that you hear us, love us, stay with us, and strengthen us in our walks through life. Make us beacons of love in our parts of the world so others may know you by our love. Amen
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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