The Call (Eph. 5:14)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/14/2019 10:12 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                                          Focus:  “The Call”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                             Reference:  Eph. 5:14

 

            Message of the verses:  “14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."

 

            We have mentioned from time to time that people who are not true believers have a difficult time in understanding the true meaning of Scripture as I have said it is like reading someone else’s mail.  However in this section, (v. 14), Paul gives something for those who are not in the light, not believers, as he tells them to wake up, “arise from the dead.”  If you are not a true believer and are reading this that advice is for you, that call is for you.

 

            Let us look at Isaiah 60:1 “"Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.”  This verse is probably the verse that was known by Paul and used in this letter to the Ephesians in verse 14.  “Paul is showing the prophetic meaning of those texts by declaring that “the glory of the Lord [that] has risen’ is none other than Jesus Christ, the Messiah for whom and in whom Isaiah and every other godly Jew had so longed for.”

 

            John MacArthur in his commentary writes that many commentators believe that this verse was taken from an “Easter” hymn that was sung by the early church.  It reminds him of a “spiritual Rip Van Winkle” as he will sleep through God’s time of grace unless there is someone to awaken him in order to be saved.

 

            MacArthur writes “Arise from the dead is a summons to repentance, an appeal to turn away from the dead ways of sin.  Christ will shine on you is the good news that God has provided a remedy for every sinful person who will come to Him through His blessed Son, the Savior of mankind.  (See Isa. 55:6-7 for a similar Old Testament invitation.)  “6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

 

            The following is from Horatius Bonar which MacArthur adds in his commentary.

 

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“I am this dark world’s light;

Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,

And all thy day be bright.”

I looked to Jesus, and I found

In Him my star, my sun’

And in that light of life “I’ll walk,

Till traveling days are done.

 

            “Proverbs 4:18 sums up the words of the apostle:  ‘The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is my desire that as I write these Spiritual Diaries each day that those who are in darkness will see the Light and come to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust that the Lord will continue to bring situations into my life where He will teach me more about humility.

 

Scripture that goes along with what J. I. Packer quotation from yesterday:  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but Fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Pro. 1:7).

 

6/14/2019 10:39 AM