March 25, 2026
Paul reminds believers that they were once in darkness but are now light in the Lord, calling them to wake up, rise from the dead, and live in the light of Christ.
Devotional: There are ways of living that slowly put a person to sleep. Numbness can do it. Bitterness can do it. Shame can do it. So can going through the motions without letting Christ actually reach the places that need His light. Paul’s words are direct because he knows how easy it is to drift.
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” That sounds a lot like “Come out.” It is the voice of God refusing to leave us buried under what has dimmed us. Sometimes we think of darkness only as obvious sin, but darkness can also look like resignation. It can look like settling for less than the life Christ offers. It can look like saying, this is just who I am now.
Paul says otherwise. If Christ has shined on you, then darkness is no longer your home. That does not mean the struggle disappears overnight. It means you do not belong to it anymore. Lent is a good time to wake up to the places where we have been sleepwalking through life and faith.
Christ does not call us out to shame us. He calls us out to shine on us.
Action: Pay attention today to one habit or attitude that has dulled your spiritual attentiveness, and ask Christ to wake you up in that place.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, wake me up where I have grown numb. Shine on the places in me that have settled for darkness, resignation, or spiritual sleepiness. Thank You that You do not leave me buried under what has dimmed my heart. Help me rise and walk in Your light with honesty, courage, and grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thought for the Day: Christ calls you out of darkness to shine on you, not to shame you.
Ephesians 5 reminds us that Christ does not call us to stay half asleep in darkness. He says, “Wake up.” He says, “Rise.” He shines His light where we have grown numb, weary, or resigned, and He calls us into a different way of living.
