Switch On the Light

Bible Reading:   Ephesians 5:8-14

Though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord.   Ephesians 5:8

Picture yourself strolling through a portrait art gallery. The room lights are on, but the spotlights that usually shine on the various paintings are off.

With the room lights on, you can see the portrait frames. You might even be able to make out some of the faces in the portraits. But only when the spotlights are flipped on and an intense light beams down on each painting can you see all the details—the facial expressions, the skin tones, the eye colors. Only when the spotlights are on can you see the people as the artists intended you to see them.

God shines his light on you—a light that shows who he created you to be. But before you see yourself clearly, you need to know how to turn on the lights.

You get light from three places:

Jesus Christ is your first source of light.John said that Jesus “gives light to everyone” (John 1:4). Jesus called himself the light of the world (see John 8:12). You flip on this light when you enter into a personal relationship with Christ. As your friendship grows deeper through the time you spend with Jesus in prayer, you see even more clearly that you are loved, valued, and competent.

God’s Word, the Bible, is another source of the light. David wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105, NIV). The more you open your mind and heart to the Word of God, the more light you enjoy.

Other believers are a source of God’s light. Jesus told his followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Being friends with God’s Son, the Light, fills you with light. As you and your Christian friends share the light of the Son of God and the Word of God with one another, you grow in your understanding of who you are. That’s a huge reason the Bible tells us, “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other” (Hebrews 10:25).

God wants you to know how he shines his light into your life so you can see yourself clearly for who you are—lovable, valuable, and capable. When you stick tight to Jesus, open your Bible, and grow close to other Christians, God’s light will shine into your life. Go ahead—flip the switch!

TALK: Do you want to see more clearly who you are in God’s eyes? How does he help you get into the light?

PRAY: God, flood us with your light as we read your Word and grow in our friendships with you and your people.

ACT: Pick a good habit to work on—talking with God, reading the Word, or spending time with Christian friends.

Horse Sense

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.   1 Peter 1:13, NIV

HAVE YOU EVER eaten so much you thought you were going to explode? Most of us have (eaten too much, not exploded!). But did you know that for some animals that is a real danger?

For example, horses love oats. If a horse eats his fill of oats, the dry oats tend to make him thirsty. Then, while his stomach is full of dry oats, the horse will start drinking water. The water causes the oats inside his stomach to expand, like a bowl of oatmeal expands when you add water. Before long the horse “founders,” and becomes too sick to walk. He may even die if he doesn’t get help.

Pretty gruesome, huh? Tell that to your mom the next time she tells you to eat all your oatmeal (just don’t tell her you read it here!). Seriously, though, here’s the point: An appetite that’s out of control is a dangerous thing.

Of course, you’d never eat a whole barrel of oats and then drink yourself sick, would you? But you do have appetites that can hurt you if you don’t control them.

“Like what?” you ask.

Well, like the desire to be accepted. Like your desire for approval. Like your desire to be loved. Like your desire to get your own way.

Those appetites and desires are not always bad things, but they sure can get you into a lot of trouble if you don’t control them. God wants you to learn self-control because your appetites and desires can hurt you, even destroy you, without it.

Many kids steal things because they can’t control their desires. Many kids get hooked on alcohol and drugs because they can’t control their desires. A lot of kids get into trouble sexually because they can’t control their desires.

So listen to what God says. “Be self-controlled” (1 Peter 1:13, NIV). Practice saying no to your appetites and desires. Learn to control them—instead of letting them control you.

REFLECT: Do you have trouble controlling any of these appetites or desires? (Circle any that apply.)

The desire to be accepted              The desire to get my own way

The desire to be loved                     My physical appetite (for food)

How can you practice saying no those desires? Have you asked God to help you develop self-control in any of these areas? If not, why not?

PRAY: “Lord, please help me to learn to control my appetites and desires instead of letting them control me. Please make me holy and self-controlled in all I do by your Holy Spirit’s power.”