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Ephesians 5:14 - Let Christ Turn Your Darkness Into Light.

Ephesians 5:14 (NKJV) Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."

Ephesians 5:14 (MSG) Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light!

INTRODUCTION

   This was probably taken from a hymn well known to the Ephesians. The hymn seems to have been based on Isaiah 26:19; 51:17; 52:1; 60:1; and Malachi 4:2. Paul was appealing to the Ephesians to wake up and realize the dangerous condition into which some of them had been slipping. Because Ephesus was such a crossroads of cultures and religions, nonbelievers could easily bring their ideas into the church. Assimilating these beliefs would be dangerous. We, too, must be alert to false beliefs infiltrating our churches.
   It is important to avoid the "worthless deeds of evil and darkness" (any pleasure or activity that results in sin), but Paul urges us to go even further. He instructs us to expose these deeds, because our silence may be interpreted as approval. God needs people who will take a stand for what is good. Christians must lovingly speak out for what is true and holy. [Life Application SB 2019]

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Most people wake up by using an alarm of some fashion. When we're deep in sleep, we need a blasting noise to help pull us out of that slumber and get us up and going.
   The same can be true of Jesus' voice when we are spiritually asleep, dead in our sins. You could have been asleep for a day or for seventy years. Either way, when you hear the voice of Jesus saying, Wake up, sleeper! Something within your soul stirs and you begin to awaken into new spiritual life.
   God wants to touch your life and use you to raise up hope for your generation. It's time to let Jesus' voice lead you into the fullness of grace and joy and healing. In Jesus' hands, funerals turn into worship celebrations. He called your name when you were dead in your grave and told you to live again.
   Listen to His voice today, and thank Him for His powerful love that changed your spiritual destiny.
   Dear Jesus, I hear You calling me. "Wake up; rise from the dead!" Shine Your light on my heart and make Your love visible in me today. [Grace and Glory by Louie Giglio]

ILLUSTRATION

   I woke up in the middle of the night. My arm was under my pillow, and the weight of my head had squashed it and turned my arm into a numb lump. I touched it with my other fingers and even used my other hand to move it around. The arm felt nothing. Once I repositioned it so blood could flow into it, uncomfortable prickles started. Life returned. The limb that had fallen asleep worked again.
   We were numb and dead in our sin until Jesus brought us back to life. But the call to "arise from the dead" isn't only for the time we enter heaven.
   In a world that turns away from Jesus at every opportunity, it's easy for our hearts to become as lifeless as my squashed arm. Sometimes when we've been cut off from the supply of life blood (perhaps ignoring His Word, or prayer, or worship, or fellowship with others), we become numb to the needs around us and the rich grace that Jesus offers. I'm thankful that He is willing and able to resurrect us daily. The process isn't always comfortable at first. When we begin to spend time with Him, our hearts may feel prickles of conviction. Jesus may call us to change or to be His arms in service in a way that challenges us. But as He shines on us, the joy of coming back to life will fuel us in our walks with Jesus.
   Let's heed the call to wake up and invite Christ to shine on us today. by Sharon Hinck [Mornings With Jesus 2019 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]

ONE LINER

God is saying to all who are dead in sin, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead." Ephesians 5:14. DA 320

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

Ephesians 5:14 - Turn Your Darkness Into Light.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190726-0905.html

John 8:12 - The Second I AM; JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250131-1355.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/