Warning Lights

Ephesians 5.1-14 (5)

Pray Psalm 139.1-5.
O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.

Sing Psalm 139.1-5.
(Ripley: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul )
You have searched me, LORD, and known me, when I sit and when I rise;
from afar, my thoughts discerning, all my path before You lies.
Every word, before it’s spoken, You behold and know it well.
Both behind me and before me, Your sweet Presence I can tell!

Read Ephesians 5.1-14; meditate on verses 11 and 12.
Unfruitful? In what ways or sense?

Preparation
1. What must our attitude be toward works of darkness?

2. What must we do regarding such works?

Meditation
On our dark stovetop, there’s a little light that stays on as long as one of the burners is still hot. I’m grateful for that little light, because I tend to set down on the stovetop things that could burn. Like my hand.

The problem with “unfruitful” works—works that are the contrary of the fruit of the Spirit—is that they don’t come with a warning light. They’re more like dark matter: out there and heavy, but we don’t always see them. We must train our soul—mind, heart, and conscience—in the good works of God’s Law, the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit, and the tokens of love (1 Cor. 13.4-7). These are like a light on your forehead to illuminate the Jesus Path, drive back the darkness, and expose as temptations any evil works seeking entrance to your soul.

Many dark and enticing side-paths will suggest themselves during our journey with the Lord. We must discern them for what they are, lest they “creep into our thinking, unrecognized” (Schaeffer) and pollute our soul with darkness. As we see these, we must steer clear; have no fellowship whatsoever with dark works, but expose and reprove them for what they are, resist the devil who is suggesting them, and stay on the Jesus Path of obedience.

We don’t need a little light to warn us. We are light in the Lord and thus a warning light to those yet in darkness, saying to them by everything we do that they should flee the darkness and come into the light of Jesus’ love. 

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Many things of darkness do sneak in unrecognized; but truthfully, our lives are so full with the possibilities of  “unfruitful works of darkness” that we need not struggle to see them. They are everywhere. And with all those possibilities that just flashed into your mind, like they did in mine, we are to have “no fellowship” (Eph. 5.11).

When we think of fellowship it usually summons up other people: the companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms; friendship; and a close association of friends or equals sharing similar interests. But we can also fellowship with ideas, and objects of entertainment—phones, computers, TVs, tablets, radios, books, magazines, food, and stuff in general. We can even fellowship with church as an idol of self-fulfillment rather than a place of worship.

We are warned that these seemingly harmless things can become “unfruitful works of darkness.” And that is our problem, not the problem of the thing itself. It is our perception and over-use that makes a guileless thing take on new meaning.

Granted, some things are just rotten at the outset. But as the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is true, so too, we can repurpose good things and make them something we should have nothing to do with.

When King Josiah had a change of heart, after having read the Book of the Law found in the house of the LORD, it is said of him that before him, nor after him, did anyone change like he did. He “turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses” (2 Kgs. 23.25).

Jesus calls us to the very same change. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22.37). It is possible to do. Or He would not require it of us.

Because really, “what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6.14).

When our focus is filled with the fellowship of God, 
when our one goal is to love Him supremely, 
when we cannot imagine allowing any unfruitful works of darkness into our hearts, minds, and souls, 
then we won’t desire fellowship with anyone or anything other than our beloved Savior—
“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, 
and the fellowship of His sufferings, 
being conformed to His death, 
if by any means, 
I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil. 3.10, 11).

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, 
and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, 
we have fellowship with one another, 
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son 
cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1.6, 7).

That is the congenial companionship that we must long for, strive for, pray for, and live for—
full fellowship with God—bearing fruitful works of light. Just like Josiah.

Reflection
1. How can you know whether there are any areas of “unfruitfulness” in your life?

2. What should you do if you discover any of these?

3. What are the keys to being more “fruitful” in your life?

He has said, “you are light.” Light exposes what takes place in darkness. Insofar as you are light your goodness shines forth. John Chrysostom (344-407), Homily on Ephesians 18.5.11-13
  
Pray Psalm 139.23, 24.
Call on the Lord to refresh your soul, expose any areas of darkness, and turn the Light of Jesus on all your thoughts, desires, and values. Ask Him to let your light burn bright in the darkness today.

Sing Psalm 139.23, 24.
(Ripley: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul )
Search my heart, O LORD, and know me, as You only, LORD, can do.
Test my thoughts and contemplations, whether they be vain or true.
Let there be no sin in me, LORD, nothing that Your Spirit grieves.
Lead me in the righteous way, LORD, unto everlasting peace!

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we are looking at the place of God’s Law in the life of the Church. Our Read Moore podcast continues working through The Gospel of the Kingdom, looking for the true Gospel of the Lord. The Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing the life of Brigit, a contemporary of Brendan. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.