Today's Scripture:
Reflect: Reflect on a story in your life that pertains to this scripture.
I grew up in a busy industrial town in Ghana. Our home was about a thousand feet from the bright fluorescent lights that surround the factories. The rays of those lights shone over the rooftops of our neighborhood, but our homes were without electricity at the time. Our source of light was from heavy duty lanterns that burned brightly at night and lit up the whole household, while we waited for promises of electricity to the township.
My aunt’s husband took a senior position at the factory and the family moved to town and lived in one of the executive housings in the confines of the factory. My aunt introduced us to security for easy passage to her home to bond with our cousins. My aunt’s home had full electricity which made spending time with our cousins pure joy. The bright light meant there was no strain on the eyes during our study and play time together.
There were two paths to get home after each visit—one path was illuminated until we were in our neighborhood. The next one thousand feet was semi-dark. The second path was dark with glimpses of the factory lights. When you are of a short stature like I was, it was so dark that I could not see my own feet. My siblings and I chose to always walk home under those bright florescent lights because it gave us security and guided us home into the loving arms of our parents.
Fact: Light drowns darkness - Apostle Paul is reminding us that Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, came to redeem us from our sinful state, out of the wrath of God, and reinstated us to our rightful heritage as sons and daughters. As new creations and recipients of the divine transformation, we now have the light to go forth in faith and in action to emulate the Redeemer. Why? Because we live in a broken world where sin is pervasive. The community of God is called to live in the light that shines forth from Christ Jesus. Believers in the Lord Jesus must proclaim Christ and lovingly invite the world around us into the light of Christ with gentleness and humility as demonstrated by the Lord Jesus during his ministry. (John 4:5-30).
In my story above, the gift of light helped create a bond between cousins. The gift of light led my siblings and I home into the loving arms of our parents. The community of believers are led by the light of Christ which is ever burning in and through us. The enduring word of God nourishes us and opens our spiritual eyes to help us discern the will of God for our lives and ministry. The empowering light buttressed by the Holy Spirit then bonds us together with Christ, which gives us boldness to love our neighbors unconditionally. Therefore, we are no longer asleep or dead in sin instead Christ, our light, shines in and through us.
Read: What is this scripture telling you during this season?
Scripture Text: Ephesians 5:6 -14
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
This scripture exposes the human condition for which God gave us the redemptive story of Christmas. The world then and now was not just sleeping, but dead in sin and without hope. But God, the love of a father, who is determined to intimately embrace His prodigal sons and daughters-you and me. “Long lay the world in sin and error pinning till he appeared, and the soul felt its worth” (From the hymn oh holy night)
1. Sin/Darkness.
2. Redemption.
3. Light/Bond.
Respond: How is this scripture calling you to respond?
This Scripture beckons me to follow the humility of the light in my life, the Lord Jesus Christ, who being God, descended in human form and humbled Himself. His birth was foretold the by prophets; a virgin birth in an insignificant place --a manger. In simplicity lies the miracles of God’s redemptive plan and purpose for humankind including me. I am in awe of the goodness of God, who in His own way, has crafted my journey in such a way that I could never have imagined. My daily prayer is to live and serve Him in total surrender and obedience, as He leads.I often wonder what was going through Mary’s mind as she traveled to Bethlehem with Joseph. What was her journey like as pregnant as she was on a donkey? In obedience, she gave her all for love and birthed the savior, ours, and hers. This Scripture presents to us the richness and the significance of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is our redemption story!
My prayer is that Christ light our way and transform every covenant partner and family here at Grace and beyond. May we slow down and let the Spirit of God into our hearts. I pray that the power of the Most High will overshadow you (the reader) for the most extraordinary Advent season of your lifetime. Lord Jesus make us mindful of your presence with us. Amen
About Stella Sekyere:
Hello, I’m Stella Sekyere. I was born and raised in Ghana. I’m a mother of two children Anne Owusu (31) and Reynolds Owusu (28). They both grew up here at Grace. I worked as a Specialty Registered Medical Assistant with Memorial Hermann for 23 years, until September of 2023.
I completed distance seminary education at the Global Theological Seminary in Ghana and was ordained in 2021 by Global Evangelical Church Ghana. My formative years were in the Global Evangelical Church of the Reformed Faith and Presbyterian by Governance. I’m actively involved in the Ghanaian Community here in Houston and the four Global Evangelical Churches in North America. I was a student at Fuller Theological Seminary until August of 2023. I gained acceptance to The Flourish Institute of Theology (ECO’s very own Seminary). Yay!
I became a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in 1997 and joined the Grace Chancel Choir in 2003. I accepted the call and trained as a Grace Stephen’s Minister. The Session of Grace endorsed me in April of 2022 as an ordination candidate of ECO. In June 2022, the Lord approved when the ECO ordination team accepted me officially as one their ordination candidates. I have begun a ministry internship here at Grace Presbyterian Church under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Julia Leeth who tirelessly trained with ECO to be my internship mentor. Praise God!