[Membersandfriends] Tuesday, August 10, 2004

Mon Aug 9 22:02:07 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Tuesday, August 10, 2004

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HIDE-AND-SEEK
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Ephesians 5:6-20 (NRSV)

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light-- for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
      "Sleeper, awake! 
          Rise from the dead,
      and Christ will shine on you." 

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light.  Live as children of light --for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.
- Ephesians 5:8-9 (NRSV)
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ONE of my two-year-old son's favorite pastimes is playing hide-and-seek.  He sits right in front of me, covers his eyes with his hands, and considers this the perfect hiding place.  He believes that he is invisible because he cannot see me.

Such thinking is normal for a two-year-old.  But older people don't think like that.  Or do they?  After thinking some more, I realized that sometimes when we fail God we have a similar attitude.  We believe that if our sin is not visible, no one will know - not even God.

Yet scripture reminds us that the wrongs we do are not hidden from God and that we should be "infants in evil, but in thinking be adults" (1 Cor. 14:20).  Our sins are not hidden from God.  But grace can sustain and strengthen us in our efforts to live in obedience to God's will, to live as "children of light."

Prayer:  God, grace us with the innocence of children that we may be completely open to you, and grace us with maturity that we may discern and obey your will. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Where do I need to be more honest with God and myself about my sin?

-- Elisa Guarjado de Jimenez (Tamaulipas, Mexico)

PRAYER FOCUS: Children who teach us

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RELATED READING ...

A perfect gift for children, THE UPPER ROOM CHILDREN'S BIBLE STORIES AND FASCINATING FACTS features 365 familiar stories, along with little known facts about biblical times. This beautifully illustrated, hardcover book will delight any child.  Scripture references are also included.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12702

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.