Hello. Today is Tuesday and our podcast is focused on Ephesians 5 vs11-20, but complements the passage and reflection from yesterday. Our theme for today is “Stop sleeping. Start shining.”

REFLECTION

Last Monday my colleague Tom Finnemore spoke about the phenomenon that is ‘Blue Monday.’ That same evening I was driving in the city centre – it was absolutely pouring with rain; in fact it had been raining all day, and the forecast for the rest of the week was for snow, sleet, hail and 50 mile per hour winds. It felt a bit of a bleak Monday, let alone a blue one. On the radio there was a phone-in asking listeners to share how they had survived ‘Blue Monday.’ One caller said she had spent the entire day in bed, wrapped up in the duvet.

That comment reminded me of my least favourite aspect of winter: waking up when it is still dark outside. When things seem blue, or bleak, or dark outside, it can be tempting to just stay inside, keep the curtains closed, and remain where you are. Or of course there is another option – to look for an escape, to run away……and so we book a holiday!

Yesterday we looked at steering clear of temptation and staying close to God. If we are struggling with difficult issues, life can appear dark, we can feel blue, and the options of withdrawing inside, of keeping hidden, or even running away, can seem far more attractive than getting up, opening the curtains and facing the world outside.

However, if Monday’s podcast was about addressing issues and behaviours in our own lives; today has an outward focus – how can we live in such a way that shows and shares Jesus to those around us?

In verses 13 and 14 Paul writes, “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

This echoes verse 8: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”

Knowing Jesus takes us from a place of death and darkness, into a place of light and life. A relationship with Jesus brings us alive, enables us to live life to the full, in the way that we were always intended to live. However, the light of Jesus in our lives is also meant to impact the lives of those around us, and so in verse 16 Paul urges us to “make the most of every opportunity.”

This blending or intertwining of the inward and outward dimension throughout Ephesians 5 vs3-20 is so challenging! We will always have difficulties or struggles in our lives – be that the temptations of the world, personal illness, a death in the family, financial worries or stress at work – but in and through all of this the call on each of our lives is the same: to stop sleeping, to live as children of light, and to make the most of every opportunity.

Our daughter is visually impaired and 2017 was an incredibly challenging year for us in terms of supporting her and meeting her needs. It was, without doubt, one of the hardest years I have ever experienced as a parent. However, throughout this time the Lord illuminated our path and brought to light several things that had not previously been visible. We very much feel that although we were in a place of darkness, the light of Christ has brought new life and opportunities in 2018. We have therefore decided to start intentionally building community with other families who have children with additional needs – some of whom are Christians and others of whom do not yet know Jesus.

However, we do not want this community to be inward looking, focusing only on the things that are hard or difficult. We don’t want to become ‘sleepers’. We want to be a couple, a family, who show the light of Jesus at all times, in all situations. We want to take this opportunity to enable others to rise up from the dark or difficult place, to meet with Jesus,