Painful Exposure

John 3²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (NKJV)

Read John 3:18-21

I was reading this passage in multiple versions this morning, and as the Word usually does, it challenged me in my Christian walk.  Ok, I have accepted and believed that Jesus is the Son of God, so I am good….right? (v18)  Also in v19 it talks about condemnation, but Romans 8:1 says there is “no condemnation in Christ Jesus…”.  So here is the kicker for us Christians, we are not condemned, but we sometimes don’t allow God’s light into ALL areas of our lives.  We could be walking as “Children of the Light” and even being an effective witness for Christ in most areas of our lives, but there is one pesky area we keep in the dark….safe from being exposed, we think.  I know what some of mine have been, and you probably know what yours are, but maybe not.  Read the Message version of the same passage:

19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”  (MSG)

Wow, around verse 20 they use the word practice, which means you are working to get better at it.  Then it brings out the reasons why you might not know that area of your life is in darkness…due to denial and illusion.  Christians can sin as long as we are in this flesh, but even our future sins are forgiven when we ask Jesus for it.  The problem is when we are practicing a sin in denial, under the illusion that we are getting away with it and it is not “really” a sin.  Eventually either God is going to take us through “a painful exposure” (v20), or we can be turned over to a reprobate mind (Romans1:28).  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit by trying to please myself over pleasing God.  I want the Lord to show me where I am in denial or under a false illusion.

Prayer:  Lord I know my faith pleases you.  Please give me the ability to see things clearly so all my deeds will be pleasing to you and done in the light of your Love.  Amen. 

Why Don't I Listen......

I love God.  Usually when I am at work and I can't get a parking spot close to the building when I first get there, I will go move my car later right before I teach my night class that does not let out until 10 pm.  Well on this particular day I had on my mind to go get some Mapco coffee and grab a sandwich, but something was telling me to just move the car and go back in. Being Wanda, I went to get the coffee & sandwich.  smile. The whole way I am trying to figure out why I am being convicted to not leave campus...should I not spend any money....do I not really need the sandwich?  All of that instead of just listening to my conviction & trusting God.
Well when I get back to my office, someone was waiting on me who I had planned to go eat with before class.  I had totally forgotten. Why don't I listen.  I knew it was the Holy Spirit...why not just trust God instead of trying to figure it out myself.  God is so awesome and faithful, when we don't remember He does, and we should just trust Him.  Amen.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

A Case Study

Read Colossians 9:9-23

Reading the Message version of the bible is awesome at times when I have been so used to reading from the KJV or the NKJV.  From the passage below verse 21 says that we “are a case study of what He does”.  You and I are being studied to see what God does! 

In my profession, the computer field, when companies create a new product and businesses run them in their environment, they can be made into a case study.  So if Microsoft wants to find out how Word is working at Business XYZ, they will do a case study to see how well Word is working in their business environment.  Other business read these case studies to see if they want to use Word in their business based on how well it worked for Business XYZ. 

In the same way God our creator uses us as a case study for how well His creation who call on the name of Jesus work in this world. If others see us as Christians working together on one accord, loving others, they might want to see what Jesus is all about and use Him in their life.  Verses 15 – 16 talk about how we are all created in Christ Jesus and find our purpose in Him.  So if we are representing what it looks like to be “fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies” (v20), then those in the world who are God’s creation, but not yet His child through accepting Christ Jesus, might want to try Jesus. 

If we who are re-gened and made new in Christ Jesus “stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message” (v.23), then we will fulfill God’s commission to be a witness for Him to the world.  We are being studied everyday of our lives.  People watch our character, our actions & reactions, and how we love our neighbor.  If someone wrote a case study about you and how well you work in this world, would others want you as a product (the evidence of God’s grace & mercy working powerfully in your life)?  Would they want to try what you have? 

Prayer:  Jesus help us walk through this life being a proper representative of what you can do when we call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.  Amen.