Shine Light

March 1, 2016

Opening Hymns:
129 Give to the Winds Thy Fears http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh129.sht

Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 5:8-14
5:8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light.

5:9 for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.

5:10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

5:12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly;

5:13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,

5:14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Message:
It is not unusual for children to lie or hide the wrong things that they do. When asked the tough questions like “Whose been eating the cookies,” “Who started it,” or “did you pinch your sister?” children may decide that lying is better than facing the consequences of their actions. They don’t want to make their parents mad at them!

As adults we need to be careful about things we might want to hide from the light. This scripture is so true, and yet so simple. If we want to hide or lie about our actions, chances are our actions are “unfruitful work”… Sadly, a lot of things seem to be hidden from the light in our society. Expectations from employers becomes too high, and instead of everyone letting the employer know, they hide the work that isn’t meeting the standards. When surveyors come to assess the quality of how a facility runs, there is a week or two of increased staffing to show how smoothly everything works… then it goes back to lower staffing, and a poorer quality.

In the scripture message for today, God is calling us to be honest and true. We are to bring light to every corner of our life. Through Christ, we are taught how to live a just life. When we sin, God forgives each and every one of us. He is sad when we sin, just like we would be sad as parents if our children were pinching each other, or stealing cookies. However, God will forgive us each of our sins. All He asks is that we confess our sins, and accept His forgiveness.    

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, please forgive us when we sin. Give us the courage to admit when we have done things that are wrong. Let us shine light on the dark areas in our lives so that we may become children of the light. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
585 This Little Light of Mine http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh585.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God