Children of Light

Hello, all.

This is Jerred.

This morning in our group devotion time, we looked at Ephesians 5:8-21.

"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. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 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.”Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Our time talking about this portion of scripture was good. I feel that God has been speaking to me personally about the value of being filled with the Spirit and letting that fullness guide my conversations and interactions with others. We can so easily fill our time together focusing on things that don't have any substance, but we have the opportunity to glorify God together if we just follow and focus on the Spirit that we as believers have been given ("And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14).

This is something that I'm learning to do more, and I hope that it can be an encouragement and challenge for you as well.

I love you all,

Jerred Olen Powell