Shades of Gray - A Devotion - Tallahassee Christian Devotions

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

How bright is your light shining for Jesus today? This little light of mine…I’m going let it shine…until someone cuts me off in traffic, irritates me, or offends me. Well, that is not exactly how the song goes but that’s why Jesus gave us grace…right!? As long as I remain neutral in this world dependent on His Grace, surely Jesus will come and carry me away one day when He returns so that I can begin that happily-ever-after fairytale that He has promised His Beloved Bride. But until then, it’s okay if I “date around” because the Lord would not expect His Betrothed to be faithful when He is not around to satisfy our needs and give us His Attention. The Grace provided by Jesus Christ for the washing away of sin was with the intention of lighting a passionate fire in the heart and soul of every man, woman and child to chase away the darkness that threatens to overtake us in order that His Light will shine brightly in our life. God is jealous for His People and does not in any way approve with us cavorting around in the wickedness of the world only to escape one day by slipping through grace back into the Light when He returns. Where is the passion for Jesus people once had? What happened to the clear line that once divided good and evil? There is no black or white anymore just various shades of gray.

Gray is an intermediate color between black and white. It is neutral. This achromatic color is defined as being free from color and translated as literally without color. Being achromatic, it is able to receive, emit and transmit light without separating it into colors. The church of today and the believers who attend it have become achromatic. Feeding on the Word of God, filled with the Spirit of God, unable to separate from the darkness of this world and become the Light of the World as Jesus instructed. The only form of gray that is acceptable in the Word of God is that which implies acquired wisdom found in age and maturity. Gray hair is a crown for those who have used their days to be filled with the knowledge of God, pursing understanding and turning it into the Wisdom of God. We chose to live in the twilight zone of life choosing to live in this world until His Kingdom comes. This is a dangerous plight down the middle-of-the-road paved by false teaching of salvation without true repentance and living life by grace and not the Spirit of God. If the church and its people do not seek the Lord and His Way before His Return many will hear the devastating words, “I knew you not…”

Revelation 3:15-17 (NLT)
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

The Lord sees everything we do but looking deeper than just our actions He wants to know our intent. Doing all the right things while others are watching is never enough. Going to church does not define you as a believer. Asking Jesus to save your soul is not enough unless you change directions otherwise you are only trying to trick the Lord into accepting you. But even worse is the Body of Christ of today who have redefined the parameters of God’s Grace to be the desperate cries of an unlovable bride who will stop at nothing to have those He loves and even forsaking Himself. The Lord does not change. He hates sin. He will always hate sin. He will never accept a sinful life as an acceptable lifestyle. Gray is not a color and the middle-of-the-road is heading in the wrong direction. When the Light of His Love encompasses us, it will be too late to see the distinction. Grace is not permission to sin, but our only chance to escape the darkness of this world and depravity of our sinful condition.

Are you a lukewarm Christian? If you have just enough Jesus to be saved, but you live in the darkness of this world overcome by doubt, fear, depression, addiction, obsession, you do not know Him. Salvation with true repentance works for everyone who will turn from their wicked ways and walk in the joy, peace and love that is the definition His Grace. For some, they do not want to leave the known for the unknown. Humility is not a sacrifice they are willing to make to obtain righteousness. Transformation in the life of a believer comes at varying degrees. Deliverance will remove many things the moment His Spirit enters our body. There are some strongholds that may take years to discover and tear down. Life is a process of building a passionate, fiery love affair with the Lord. Moving deeper and deeper into His Presence until we cannot define where we end and He begins eclipsed in His Glory. This will never happen as long as we allow the darkness of sin to blemish our life. There is no place of compromise in the Kingdom of God. You are in or you are out. The Lord is looking down from His Throne inviting you to leave the shades of gray that darken your life to live in the Light of His Amazing Love.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

The shades of gray that cover the church today represent compromise and distrust. It is a deliberate scheme by satan to rob you of the victory given to you by Jesus Christ. If we fail to believe in the Power of God found in repentance and choose to remain in sin despite being saved, then the enemy has won. What good is victory without a prize? When my sons were in elementary school, it was the youngest boy’s first Valentine’s Day. He was so proud of his bag of cards and treats from his friends. But when he was about to show them to me, he discovered that his older brother out of jealousy had eaten all of his candy and torn up all the cards. His prize was destroyed. There was no reason for it as my oldest son had received the same from his classmates. My son was devastated and his brother quite sad when he realized the impact of his actions but it was too late. There was nothing that he could do to restore his brother’s treasure and trust. By grace, his sibling chose to forgive him. In return, his big brother shared all of his treats with him. Jesus had no reason whatsoever to die on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sin because He did nothing wrong. It was an act purely motivated by love for helpless people. You have nothing to offer the Lord but all of you. To worship God is the very reason that you are alive. It is your purpose in life. It is time for God’s People to understand that we do not deserve a better life. In fact, we deserve to die for our faults and failures. God demanded death for our disobedience but Jesus Christ stepped in and laid His Life down instead. There was no halfway, middle-of-the-road, grayness to His Grace. It is the scarlet color of His Precious Blood that flows and did not stop flowing until you and I were as “white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18) What are you doing to honor the Lord’s sacrifice today? If it were your son’s blood would you trample it as you do God’s Only Son? I would hope not.

The devil is trying to rob you of the blessing and favor available to those who choose to be the Light of the World and live in the Presence of God. The Glory of God awaits all who live in His Presence and inherit His Kingdom. However, righteousness demands a choice. You cannot live a lukewarm life. The Word of God compares such a lifestyle to vomit. I have heard Christian admit that even when they know what they are doing is wrong as long as they ask forgiveness for it then His Grace is applied. That is a boldface lie from the mouth of the devil reverberating through the walls of hell and the corridors of churches in America today. Repentance means to turn from the darkness and live in the Light. It means leave evil and do good! Today, I speak to the tainted minds, blinded eyes and deaf ears in the church today and call you back to the Light.

Isaiah 59:9-10 (NLT)
So there is no justice among us, and we know nothing about right living. We look for light but find only darkness. We look for bright skies but walk in gloom. We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead.

After speaking to a youth group one evening, I was quite surprised when several young leaders approached me. The topic was good and evil. As I talked about modern culture specifically the world’s fascination with the “Twilight series”, they came to me because the Lord had convicted them in the service. Entertainment and fiction are not bad. However, anything that would cause us to entertain demons, the occult or any kind of evil is sin. In the world in which we live, there is very little Light to be found for most of it has become cloudy and gray if not complete darkness. I believe Jesus is coming back soon and most of His Bride is unprepared and preoccupied with the world thinking there is time for all that later. Jesus Christ has given His People Eternal Life, but we are the living who lives like the dead.

John 8:12 (NLT)
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

To follow Jesus Christ means leaving the darkness behind but it is a choice. “If you follow me, you won’t HAVE to walk in darkness.”Following Jesus Christ always leads to light. Just because you are a Christian does not mean that you have moved from the darkness into the Light. The process by which this occurs is called transformation. We are to transformed by God and reject the conformity of the world. (Romans 12:1-2) This is deemed to be our “reasonable service.” Are you serving God or conforming to the world?

Isaiah 1:18-20 (NLT)
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

In the Name of Jesus Christ and by the Power of the Holy Spirit, I speak discernment over your life today. God invites you to “come now, let’s settle this.” He asking you to choose between the Light of His Amazing Love and the darkness of the world and take up residency in one or the other. His Promise is that IF you obey me, I will take care of you. Are you experiencing victory in your life? Are you winning spiritual battles in your heart? Are you living in the peace that passes all understanding? If not, then maybe it’s time to evaluate the direction of your life and move closer to the Light. But I give you fair warning, there are some things you will have to leave behind in order to obey the Lord.

You are the Light of the world. You have been given a purpose to shine bright in the darkness to draw all men. God never intended to set your heart on fire so you could make it in the dark. He is calling you higher. Your lamp has been placed on a stand. It was meant to light up the world rather than be engulfed in darkness. But as the Word of the Lord says, “People loved the darkness more than the light…” Your good deeds should shine out for all to see that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father. You were created to be victorious, complete, whole and lacking no good thing. What’s the hold up? Is your light shining? If so, the darkness must flee? No darkness remains when you turn on a lamp in your house and neither will it in your life if you let the Light of God’s Love take over your life and you step into it. Your life is to reflect the Love of God extended to you through Jesus Christ. “You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.” (Psalm 119:4-6)

Proverbs 4:18-19 (NLT)
The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

When Jesus Christ came into your heart, it was with every intention of changing your life forever. He had no intention of leaving you in the darkness but His Spirit was the first gleam of the dawn of the revelation of total embodiment by the Lord to be His Light as His Word is brought to life by His Spirit inside you. Each day your light should grow brighter as the flames of passion surge by the knowledge of His Great Love. As we grow in knowledge and understanding of God’s Will, Way and Word suddenly our life is in full light of His Amazing Love. The darkness becomes unappealing until all you want is more of Jesus. It will change where you go, what you do, how you live, how you act, what you want and what you are willing to do to have it. Jesus becomes your everything as you walk in the true freedom intended by God according to His Kingdom.

Acts 12:7 (NLT)
Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.

Walking in the Light of God’s Love by truly repenting of our sin and decisively following Jesus Christ away from darkness and gray areas will release you from the bondage of sin, generational curses, sickness, disease, torment and defeat. When the Light entered the cell the angel of the Lord told Peter “Get up!” and the chains fell off his wrists. They will fall off yours too if you will respond to the Lord’s command to leave the evil and dark things of this world behind as clear revelation of the authority and power that lives in you comes to light! You can escape those things that have been holding you back and step directly into God’s Plan and Purpose for your life.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NLT)
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

The Spirit of the Living God lives on the inside of you. You are free from the bondage of sin and have the right to walk away from it once and for all. Are you willing to claim your freedom today? The shades of gray that represent a life compromised between good and evil is large and inviting for people who try to maintain a level of comfort in this life and who still are interested in Eternity. It is so big in fact that it has the power to influence you by the sheer number of willing participants that it is a lifestyle choice for Children of God. It is the biggest lie captivating the hearts and minds of the Bride of Christ today. Satan has indeed blinded the minds of believers to the danger of dwelling in the darkness because it will snuff out your Light. God didn’t create us to be achromatic beings free from color without the ability to demonstrate His Glory. Those who lack discernment that comes from Spirit (Holy Spirit) and Truth (Word of God) are in real trouble and don’t even know it. You were made to receive, emit and transmit the Glory of God in all of its Magnificent Splendor. The Blessings and Favor of God follow His Glory. It is time for the church to rise to the occasion and begin to life to reflect the Truth about God with integrity and seriousness. Most people are more dedicated to their career than Jesus. They spend more time shuttling their kids back and forth to the ball field than pleading the Blood of Jesus over them and lifting their little lives up in love. You can probably tell me who the last ten finalists on American Idol were but can you name ten disciples? You worry about what your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors think about you but never really consider how God feels about the way you live? We decide to know the Lord tomorrow or give Him our heart later. Surely He will understand life is full of temptation. Jesus understands all right because He overcame them all. His Spirit lives inside of you as a believer and knows everything you are doing, saying and thinking. God has waited and His Mercy has endured for now, but unless the Bride of Christ individually and corporate decides to transition from gray to grace there will be many who called themselves Christians who are disappointed when Jesus tell them, “I knew you not.”

Proverbs 27:19 (NLT) As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.

The Holy Spirit invites you to take a look at your reflection. Are you shining light into the darkness of this world? Your heart yields a clear picture that God sees right through but it is time we are honest with ourselves. Are we in love with Jesus Christ or just trying to make it into His Love? Are you listening to God’s Word? Are you doing it? Are you living in the Goodness and Grace of God or just barely getting by? Why take a risk? Only doers of the Word will find a place in God’s Kingdom? Will that be you? The Spirit calls for the return of Jesus. What about you? Only those who live as the Light of the World will rejoice in His Coming! Move out of the darkness, step out of the gray and live as the Light of the World!

James 1:22-24 (NLT)
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.