The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Ephesians 5-6, Titus 1-3
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 4: Christ’s Church: God’s People Advance the Kingdom
Background Information: Ephesians 5-6, Titus 1-3
In the dark, vibrant colors fade to colorless grey and then to black. In the dark danger lurks unseen. In the dark, finding your way becomes difficult if not impossible. Dark nights can magnify discouragement and loneliness. It is no wonder that Scripture’s most common contrast between the old life of sin and the new life in Christ is dark and light. Electricity has made this contrast less striking as we can, to a degree, light up the darkness artificially. Even still, the point is not lost on us. We know the dangers and limitations of darkness and the freedom and beauty that we experience with the coming of the morning light. We are to live as children of the light, no longer stumbling, lost in the dark. This contrast is not merely poetic language; it is a powerful description of the differences in how we live our lives. Basic relationships are transformed into something different, something vibrant. Marriages, families, and all levels of social relationships are transformed by the gospel. We do not live in darkness, but neither are we to fear it any longer. Our fight is against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces that animate it. To live safely and securely as children of the light in the midst of a world filled with great darkness, we must be fully clothed and equipped with the spiritual weapons God has placed at our disposal. This armor/weapon metaphor must not become symbolism without substance in our lives. We must know and obey the truth. We must live as imitators of God, choosing righteousness. We must share the gospel, or we will forget what we have been given, and we will sideline ourselves in the fight. We must live by faith and not by fear. We must live confidently in the fight because our salvation is secure and God’s true word is our powerful weapon. All this is about God’s grace empowering human grit. We have been rescued from the darkness; why would we choose to live in it any longer? His grace teaches us to say “no” to all the darkness of our former way of life. Our grace empowered grit is how we live with joyful self-control in this present dark age as we wait for the glorious dawn of the appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for the Student Team to have gospel conversations with college students from all over Tajikistan. Pray for follow up relationships with local believers.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.