“May I share something with you?” the person asked.

“Of course,” I responded.

“It’s from Ephesians 5, where Paul is talking about discernment.“

Then, the person read it aloud to us both. I followed along with my finger in the text:

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷ Therefore do not become partners with them; ⁸ for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰ and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³ But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴ for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

I am teaching through Matthew’s gospel account of Christ currently, and I am camped out in chapter 13 for several weeks. Why? Well, it’s about how so many are blind to what is right in front of their eyes. It is staggering how much of the Bible is about willful ignorance and suppression of the truth.

My Prayer: Lord, Shape your saints to be a people characterized by wisdom and love for the truth and for the body you purchased. Expose the lies; reward the good, true, and beautiful. Glorify your name. Amen.