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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The DEEP

Light

Shine on.

Ephesians 5:8–14a (NKJV)

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And 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. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

One of the most profound aspects of the born-again experience is the retroactive loss of privacy. Nothing is done in secret, and nothing ever was done in secret. It’s the ultimate eye-opener.

Paul describes this as light. Light is shined on your life. We are children of light.

And we are to be light to everyone around us too. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Everyone needs their eyes opened.

This gets tricky because exposing something means making it public. The whole point of the darkness is keeping things hidden. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

People aren’t going to be happy about having their sin called out. That makes doing this risky. It’s how John the Baptist got himself arrested.

For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” —Matthew 14:3–4 (NKJV)

Paul is telling us to take risks, and he doesn’t seem to care about the risk. There’s no specific advice in this passage about how to do this safely or tactfully.

Paul wants us to do the right thing regardless of the cost.


However, Paul does say one thing that might be application advice. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. Can this be reconciled with Matthew 14:3–4?

Yes, but not because of John’s tactful (or not) choice of words. John wasn’t speaking of secret things; Herod’s relationship with Herodias was public. He was simply shedding light on the situation.

But even that wasn’t safe. So, is there any way to expose sin to light safely? Or, forgetting safety, is there a way that is best, or right?

Yes; we have one, directly from the Lord Himself. Approach someone privately before going public.

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” —Matthew 18:15 (NKJV)


The weekly study guides, which include all five devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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