Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 29
Saturday


SEE ALL EVIL

READ:
Ephesians 5:1-17
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It is shameful even to
speak of those things
which are done by
them in secret.
__Ephesians 5:12
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While waiting at the doctor's office, I read an article about the importance of freedom of speech. The writer suggested that producing obscene movies and pornography is good because it helps us to se our own potential for evil. He believes that naively thinking we are innocent is worse than knowing about and watching evil.

This rationale for evil is disturbing, especially for those of us who follow Christ. God doesn't expect us to avoid all contact with wickedness. jesus--God in the flesh--loves sinners. But in the book of Ephesians, Paul said: "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret" (5:11-12).

Our responsibility is to expose evil by living a life of "goodness, righteousness, and truth" (v.9), and by not taking part in "the unfruitful works of darkness" (v.11). Hendriksen's New Testament Commentary says that the conduct of believers as children of light exposes the deeds of those in darkness and reveals the vast contrast between the two.

It's not realistic or wise to hide in a "holy cocoon." But we don't need to see evil to understand our propensity to sin. Expose the darkness by living in the Light. __ Anne Cetas
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```````````````Lord, keep us from entanglements`````````````````
``````````````That choke Your Spirit's work within,````````````````
````````````````So we can then reflect your light``````````````````
`````````````Into a world that's dark with sin. __ sper``````````````
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Children of the light
will not be comfortable in the dark.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 5:1-17***********

1 Therefore be imitators of
God as dear children. 2 And
walk in love, as Christ also
has loved us and given
Himself for us, an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a
sweet-smelling aroma.

3 But fornication and
all uncleanness or
covetousness, let it not even
be named among you, as is
fitting for saints; 4 neither
filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor coarse jesting,
which are not fitting, but
rather giving of thanks.

5 For this you know, that
no fornicator, unclean
person, nor covetous man,
who is an idolater, has any
inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ and God. 6 Let
no one deceive you with
empty words, for because
of these things the wrath of
God comes upon the sons of
disobedience. 7 Therefore do
not be partakers with them.

8 For you were once
darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Walk as
children of light 9 (for the
fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness, righteousness,
and truth), 10 finding out
what is acceptable to the
Lord. 11 And have no
fellowship with the
unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather expose
them. 12 for it is shameful
even to speak of those
things which are done by
them in secret. 13 But all
things that are exposed
are made manifest by the
light, for whatever makes
manifest is light.

14 Therefore He says:
"Awake, you who sleep, rise
from the dead, and Christ
will give you light."

15 See then that you walk
circumspectly, not as fools
but as wise, 16 redeeming
the time, because the days
are evil.

17 Therefore do not be
unwise, but understanding what
the will of the Lord is.