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. (Ephesians 5:8-14)
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 . . . There is something in us that left unchecked, will crash into the darkness. There is a sinful bend to our soul that can so easily engage in darkness, especially when we feel it is consequence free. Sin should never shock us for we more than anyone should know its reach and depth. Is this not why we so passionately love our savior? For He provided a different way.
Never underestimate the voice of sin in your life, but always bring it as a subject to the light of grace He provides. Expose your sin. This is confessional faith. Sin can no longer live under the warming truth of grace and therefore we “expose” it in hopes of finding the peace that only Christ provides. This takes courage. No one wants to drag the evils of their character out unprompted for others to judge. Yet, this is what we are called to do.
Who in your life is your exposer? While we should be careful with who we trust in this role, our habit is to bottle it up and isolate our darkness. Isolation is never our calling. The Church and our faith are only as mature as our ability to live under the vulnerable light of Christ.
Lord, expose our darkness. Give us the courage to seek repentance in our daily stumbles and equip us to choose better. You alone can resolve our sin. Thank you for your undeserved grace.
Matt simon blog 