What do you think about this?

[joeb]

Quote:

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Quote:

Ephesians 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Is this a popular truth today?

[olger]

I like it!

`g

[Gibs]

I like it too and so would like to add more of it,

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

[joeb]

Interesting. I didn't think this would be a very popular subject as it talks about how the light found in the Bible reveals the darkness found in our hearts, and how the light will change us if we will surrender our works of darkness.

[Gail]

But if you believe the Bible, then what a help it is!

As a child I had very liberal parents and very little guidelines for living. How wonderful it was for me to discover the concepts the Bible had as to what constitutes righteousness! Before that, I really had no clue as to how to live.

The hard part is the process of being cleaned up. It is hard on the selfish nature, but in the end is freeing, not only from personal guilt burdens but from the sorrow we cause others.

[Ted Oplinger]

But if you believe the Bible, then what a help it is!

As a child I had very liberal parents and very little guidelines for living. How wonderful it was for me to discover the concepts the Bible had as to what constitutes righteousness! Before that, I really had no clue as to how to live.

The hard part is the process of being cleaned up. It is hard on the selfish nature, but in the end is freeing, not only from personal guilt burdens but from the sorrow we cause others.

Still, Gail, there are times I am left with profound sorrow for what my sins of ignorance (as well as sins of willfulness) have done to those around me, and to Christ, who took those upon Himself. Certainly, the blood of Christ washes the sorrow away. Yet, I cannot help but feel there is something that sorrow leaves behind that lingers, and won't go away until He calls me to be with Him in the air with the words, "Awake, sleeper! And arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!"

And there are times when I am confident of Father's power to work in me to will and to do of His good pleasure, and the confidence of God's power simply causes me to forget the sorrows of the other days.

Blessings,

[debbym]

most wonderful truth Joeb.

[Gail]

Still, Gail, there are times I am left with profound sorrow for what my sins of ignorance (as well as sins of willfulness) have done to those around me, and to Christ, who took those upon Himself. Certainly, the blood of Christ washes the sorrow away. Yet, I cannot help but feel there is something that sorrow leaves behind that lingers, and won't go away until He calls me to be with Him in the air with the words, "Awake, sleeper! And arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!"

And there are times when I am confident of Father's power to work in me to will and to do of His good pleasure, and the confidence of God's power simply causes me to forget the sorrows of the other days.

For sure! That is the evidence of a living conscience.

[joeb]

But if you believe the Bible, then what a help it is!

As a child I had very liberal parents and very little guidelines for living. How wonderful it was for me to discover the concepts the Bible had as to what constitutes righteousness! Before that, I really had no clue as to how to live.

The hard part is the process of being cleaned up. It is hard on the selfish nature, but in the end is freeing, not only from personal guilt burdens but from the sorrow we cause others.

The hard part for me anymore, and it most definitely hasn't always been this way, is that it is taking so long to clean me up, and the reason it's taking is that I put up the roadblocks myself.

[joeb]

Still, Gail, there are times I am left with profound sorrow for what my sins of ignorance (as well as sins of willfulness) have done to those around me, and to Christ, who took those upon Himself. Certainly, the blood of Christ washes the sorrow away. Yet, I cannot help but feel there is something that sorrow leaves behind that lingers, and won't go away until He calls me to be with Him in the air with the words, "Awake, sleeper! And arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!"

And there are times when I am confident of Father's power to work in me to will and to do of His good pleasure, and the confidence of God's power simply causes me to forget the sorrows of the other days.

Blessings,

Ted,

That "thing" that sorrow leaves behind is the desire not be like we are. It's the desire to be like Jesus. We can be that in the here in now. God is much more powerful than sin, and if we surrender all of ourselves He can change this just as surely as He can overcome any addiction in our lives when we surrender it to Him.

[Gail]

Yes- pain is an indication that something is wrong, whether physical or emotional. It makes sense that sin would leave a residue of pain within us. It is the evidence that it is unrighteous.