Wake up, sleeper!

Ephesians 5:8-20

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.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the things that I find interesting about these verses is the punctuation between the two sentences that I've underlined above. That "period" reveals that a person...while positionally "light in the Lord"...can live totally disconnected from that reality. Hence, the "Wake up, Sleeper"... Because of the distinction, I think we need to treat those "punctuation" moments very carefully...for they are moments of invitation into "becoming". Wow...true, real living. Some are delightful discoveries of self and the world through His eyes. Some are challenges to our old ways and patterns. Regardless, all of those moments are encounters with the Father. Holy opportunities...  

Oh, that we'd accept the call...