One of the challenges of good blogging is to keep all entries short, pithy, and to the point. May I ask, how is one to do that with this passage! I’m going to give it a go …
This Advent Scripture is like Theology 101 in a nutshell; it is the size of a sesame seed when held up to the entirety of the Word, but look at all the goodness inside!
How about this … as we light our Advent candles each evening, shall we not pray with the striking of the match that we may reprove every dark place that remains in us, be it as small as a mustard seed?
Let us awaken to the glories of light, for the Light of the World dwells in the tabernacle of our hearts, and we have been enjoined, “But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from sin.” (1 John 1:7)
This is walking with God. This is bearing the fruit of light. This is to be a walking Advent candle. This is to awaken and cast off every work of darkness, every exaggeration, all murmuring and complaining, and get oil for our lamps from the vendor. I always wonder about those virgins … uh-oh … don’t wander off the path of the good blogger! … but it does seem that we need to go out to meet the Bridegroom, keep our wicks trimmed, and take His Spirit with us!
Then, as we snuff out the candles each night, let us ask that we may be given to walk as children of light, even and especially in the dark.
There … how’d I do?
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret;
but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” (Ephesians 5:6-14)
Lamp lighter in Brest, Belarus
Yogi555, by permission
Marketplace Monastics 