A Journey Through Ephesians … 5:10-17

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, 

“Awake, O sleeper,    rise up from the dead,    and Christ will give you light.”

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.Ephesians 5:10-17

When I was a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, I had an English Class with a sweet girl named Susie. She was kind and witty and it was apparent, by the way she spoke and interacted with others, that she loved Jesus. She never forced her faith on me. Not once. She never raised one eye brow at anything I said (I was NOT walking with Jesus sooooo there is NO telling what all I said). Susie simply was kind. The light in her was beautiful. And bright. And honestly, it exposed the darkness in my own life. She had a heart for me…. asking me each week to grab lunch after class and eventually inviting me to join her to do social things outside of school – with more of her kind, bright-lighted friends . And although I surely didn’t fit in, I wanted to go. Because she was simply so kind. There was “something” about being with her that called out to my soul…. “Awake O sleeper, rise up from the dead – Christ will give you light.”

In short, this sweet girl named Susie was a key player in my salvation story… And all she did was “make the most of every opportunity” she had with me. She understood what the Lord wanted her to do.

Friend, the light in you is enough. Don’t underestimate its power to do a work in the lives of others. There is sometimes an occasion where verbal exposure of sin is necessary, but if we live according to God’s precepts, carefully determining what pleases the Lord, the Light of Christ in you WILL call others to “Awake.”

I am living proof.