Living As The Children Of Light

"Today's Devotion" For September 10, 2005

Read: Ephesians 5:8; Psalm 34

LIVING AS THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT

"You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of Light." (Eph. 5:8)

During his Presidency in the early 1990's, President George H. W. Bush, father of our current President, often spoke quite glowingly about people who volunteered service to their communities. Calling them "Points of Light," he was fond of noting how such volunteers made a difference in their communities and around the nation. He praised their selfless commitment to serving the needs of others and honored many of them with a "Points of Light" award. The recent outpouring of money, food, clothing, shelter, jobs, and other acts of love and compassion from people around the country in behalf of Hurricane Katrina victims reflects the finest tradition of the "Points of Light" that the former President espoused and recognized.

It's quite probable that once the events of the past couple of weeks are consigned to our memories that a good number of people and agencies will be recognized for their service during this catastrophic event. At the same time, large numbers of those who are serving and will serve to help alleviate the suffering and sense of loss will be forgotten by most, except by those whose lives they touched. For many of those people, however, the reward is in the "doing" not in an award. The relief being offered by God's people is incredible, with churches and church schools around the nation opening their homes and schools to those displaced by this cataclysmic event. More assistance is on the way and more volunteers are planning to serve by cleaning up and rebuilding the homes, and lives, devastated by this event.

A few years ago I had noted that it's a sad note in history that the first President Bush felt it was necessary to recognize, on the national stage, those who had willingly volunteered to serve in their communities - not for honor or recognition, but out of love for their neighbors. I noted that honoring those who did something good is a reflection on the reality that we live in a world that only sees the bad things people do, not the good. That same thought still applies today. Perhaps we've even gone backwards because it seems that, especially in political circles, everyone is pointing fingers and assigning blame rather than working together to provide relief and wholeness to a bad situation. Again we are seeing the darkness of Sin that fills the world with hatred, distrust, and selfishness. Remembering the first stories out of New Orleans the nation was told that tens of thousands were dead or dying, that the hurricane was the fault of the President not signing the Kyoto Accords (environmental peace treaty), that police officers had fled, and that no rescue relief was available. Numerous other "claims and blames" were heaped upon the public's psyche in those first days. Yet, in the aftermath, we are finding that much of what was reported was not true, was amplified beyond proportion, and that a whole lot of aid was turned away because of poor leadership at the local and state levels.

There is a darkness that lies like a pall over the world. Scripture calls it Sin, and God tells us that Sin distorts the truth and fosters lies and hatred to God and toward our fellow human beings. There can be no truth in the world without the power of God to overcome the lies that Sin brings. That's why, as St. Paul reminded the Ephesians, and reminds us, God sent Jesus to overcome the darkness of Sin, clear up its lies, and restore humanity to a loving and right relationship with the Father. To be "light in the Lord" means that we no longer live in the shadows of truth blinded to the grace and mercy of God and His love for us. To be "light in the Lord" means that those who believe in Jesus Christ are able to see God's creation for what it truly is and realize a full and loving relationship with Him. We have been blessed to be called to His Light and to live as children of Light, that we might share His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with a world that's "in the dark" without Jesus.

Prayer: Father, You sent the Light of the World, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into the world to save sinners and overcome the darkness of Sin which hid the world from Your love and mercy. Forgive me for so often letting the darkness of Sin blind me to the Light of Your grace in Christ, and leading me to acts of selfishness and disregard for my neighbor. By the power of Your Word and Spirit I pray that You would daily restore me to You and Your forgiveness in Christ. Brighten my heart and mind with Your Word that I might live in Your Light and be "Light" that breaks through the darkness of Sin in the world so that others might see Jesus through me. Through Your Light, Father, I pray that You would bring peace to the hearts and minds of people everywhere so they might also "live as children of Light." In the name of Jesus, Who is the Light of the world, I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.