'Now you are light'

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ... .

-Ephesians 5:8

Ever feel like you're living in the dark? I remember the day that I had my stroke and lying in a dark room. Vaguely, I remember the darkness might have had something to do with imaging.

But regardless of how light or dark my surroundings, I felt in the dark. Lost, confused and grasping for hope that I could not see.

And we've all been there, one way or the other.

Today, though, God offers us the opportunity to be a child of light, a light in his name. Regardless of any darkness in your past, you can live in the light.

'For we are God's handiwork'

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

-Ephesians 2:10

After my stroke, I considered the idea that I was "damaged goods" somehow. I struggled with recovering my speaking and writing abilities, despite the damage.

Yet, we hear Paul's words to the Ephesians that echo to this day. No matter my "damage," I am - just as you are - God's handiwork.

Perfect? No one is. Accepted by Christ? All of us.

That one little word: in

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

-Ephesians 6:10-11

As Palm Sunday approaches, an important word to remember: "in."

That small word - "...be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ..." - packs some punch. Those two little words remind us that true strength is found in God.

Stroke recovery can be lonely and difficult. But remember, you are in God's strength and in his power. Rest in his love and strength.

'We are God's workmanship'

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

-Ephesians 2:10

I am a very amateur woodworker. All of my workmanship is very, very imperfect.

That being said, even this amateur can make good use of his creations. We hang our coats on one of my creations. A shelf unit hangs in a bathroom. One supports a daughter's TV. Works in progress will hold some wind chimes, serve as a utility room shelf and eventually hold jewelry.

Now, imagine the workmanship of a craftsman who is far from amateur - even perfect. We are the creations of this craftsman. Perfect? Not yet. Like you - everyone - still a work in progress.

'Destroyed ... the dividing wall of hostility'

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility ... .

-Ephesians 2:14

I had an enjoyable time last week destroying something.

It was during a vacation during a little remodeling of my small workshop. In that basement shop, an old wardrobe, ugly and in poor condition, was present when we bought our house. We used it to store paint and various supplies, very inefficiently, but it was all we had.

But last week, we bought a utility shelf unit to replace the wardrobe. A pry bar took care of dismantling it quite easily, and I was able to retain pieces I plan to use for future projects.

What was junk, an obstacle, is gone.

Paul wrote about destroying something too - something in the way. He wrote about Christ destroying the barrier that kept people apart. Read the entire verses in Ephesians 2:11-22.

Are barriers still out there? Sadly, yes. Human-generated barriers are all over this world. Call them hatred, hostility, prejudice. Let's destroy them. Good news: No physical exertion required. Let's get the junk, the obstacles, out of the way.

(Photo from Shopping.com)

'Near through the blood of Christ'

[R]emember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

-Ephesians 2:12-13

A friend had a stroke last week and reminds me of the concerns that so many stroke survivors and loves ones go through. One in particular: What will I get back?

For some, it's a question of physical recovery. In my own case, it was a matter of speaking, reading and writing. I made my living as a reporter and editor, so was naturally concerned - no, make that almost frantic - to get back the ability to use language.

So what's the Ephesians got to do with it? Consider Paul's words to a group who were one step away from a pagan culture. In verse 12, Paul tells them that not long before, they were without God and therefore without hope. But verse 13 - and a few verses before and beyond - Paul reminds the recipients the good news - they are now united in Christ, and they' re in the household of hope.

In a two-verse phrase, Paul reminds them that outside that household, they had no hope. As citizens of the household of God, they had hope eternally.

That’s pretty powerful but the word "hope" is so, so often misunderstood by a world. So many people have no idea even what hope means. I’ve even heard people badmouth hope. One commentator wrote that “hope is for losers.” If that’s true, then Lord, let me be a loser.

Did hope promise that everything will be perfect? No.

It means that no matter what happens, your place in the household of hope is secure.

Bearing with one another in love

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

-Ephesians 4:2

I pity the people who consciously decide to avoid going to church. Have heard all the excuses and, in years past, have used a few.

But to the bottom line, as a stroke survivor: When I needed fellow Christians, they carried me with love through recovery and beyond.

Church is not the most important thing in the world, by any means - God is the ultimate importance. But a good church is a conduit to a better relationship with God. If you haven't found a church home, find the one that helps you build that relationship. In the final analysis, that relationship is what life is about, the reason you - all of us - exist.

In the right place, churchgoers learn from each other and lean on each other. Together, they explore deeper and deeper into faith. They find answers and push into even more complicated questions. Without a support system, we only play in the shallow pools of faith. With fellow believers we can love and trust, we can explore the depths of faith and understanding.

From Korea 2006