Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 20, 2015
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. Ephesians 5:8-10
I love my family. I believe I am sold out to them, because I am willing to do whatever it takes to care for their needs. No amount of time, sacrifice or financial investment is too large an obstacle to be overcome to provide my family what they need in life. But do I have an even higher commitment to Christ? Am I sold out to my Savior to the degree He died for me? Do I diligently seek to understand what pleases God, so I can please Him? In my heart of hearts I want to live as a child of the light, but sometimes the darkened world eclipses my faith. I aspire to be sold out.
Paul describes how we once groped in the darkness of sin, but now through faith in Jesus we are light in the Lord. He implores us to live as children of the light who bear the fruit of the light: goodness, righteousness and truth. To bear the fruit of faith we work out our salvation, as God works in us. Fruit bearing is passively nurtured by the Spirit in prayer so we can actively bear fruit in virtue. The Lord makes us good, so we can do good. The righteousness of Christ works righteous acts through us. And the truth of God gives us moral resilience to resist dark deeds.
“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13).
Are you sold out to Jesus? Is the stadium of your soul sold out to the fans of light: humility, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness and faithfulness? Fans of light cheer on your commitment to Christ. They encourage you to stay focused on eternal rewards and to persevere through temporal trials. Fans of darkness jeer at any talk of Jesus. They want autonomous beliefs for themselves, but not you. Your righteous light exposes their unrighteous darkness. Sold out Jesus followers will not allow their light switch of faith to be turned off. Love illuminates faith!
Being sold out doesn’t mean you move to Africa—though it could. It doesn’t mean you run for political office—though it could. It doesn’t mean you are a vocational minister—though it could. Being sold out to Christ means you are lead by the Spirit—not legalistically driven by the flesh. You are faithful to the ordinary—like quiet prayers—as you are with extraordinary—like bold objections to loud voices who threaten religious liberty. You are grace filled—not guilt ridden. A sold out soul to Jesus—pleases Jesus. Being sold out means you don’t give out until you go out!
“It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it” (3 John 1:3).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, grow me into a seasoned servant who is sold out to Your son Jesus.
Related Readings: 2 Chronicles 19:9; Proverbs 3:3; 3 John 1:5; Revelation 2:10
Post/Tweet this today: The truth of God gives us moral resilience to resist dark deeds. #soldout #wisdomhunters
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Additional Resource: 4 minute music video- Hawk Nelson: Sold Out
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