What Ephesians 5:14 Means for Us Today
Ephesians 5:14 says, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” In simple terms, this verse is a wake-up call. It’s like an alarm clock to our souls, telling us to snap out of spiritual sleepiness and let Jesus light up our lives.
Let’s be honest—sometimes it feels like we, as people of faith, have hit the snooze button. Maybe we’ve gotten comfortable, ignored things we shouldn’t, or drifted from what matters most. That’s why today, the word “redo” comes to mind. To redo something is to do it over, to get a fresh start.
The Power of “Re”
Think of all the words that start with “re”: redo, return, repent, renew, restore. When we realize we’ve wandered off track, these “re” words are invitations to come back, to try again, and to be made new.
One of the biggest “redos” we need is to return to our first love—Jesus. Sometimes, we let other things take His place in our hearts. The good news is, repentance isn’t a dirty word. It simply means to turn around, to admit we’ve messed up, and to let God wash us clean. Romans 10:9-10 gives a promise: if we confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead, we’re saved. It’s really that simple.
Facing Hard Truths Together
But waking up isn’t just about our personal faith. It’s also about how we treat each other, especially people who are different from us. In the early days of the church, one of the biggest problems was “ethnocentrism.” That’s a fancy word for believing your own culture or group is better than everyone else’s. The book of Acts shows how this attitude created divisions—even among followers of Jesus.
Sadly, this isn’t just an ancient issue. Sometimes, Christians let cultural pride or even nationalism (putting your country or group above all else) get in the way of loving others like Jesus taught. We start thinking, even without realizing it, that our way is the only way, and everyone else is wrong. But the gospel challenges this. Scripture calls us to love, to be humble, and to see every person as valuable.
Returning to What Matters Most
So, what do we do? We return. We “redo.” We repent and ask God to help us put Him first and love others well. We stop letting lies or pride divide us—especially when they come from leaders who should know better.
This isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. Waking up means telling ourselves the truth, facing where we’ve fallen short, and letting Jesus shine His light in and through us. As we do, we become the kind of people—and the kind of church—the world desperately needs: honest, humble, loving, and awake.
Let’s hear that spiritual alarm clock. Let’s “wake up” and let Christ shine on us, so we can shine His truth and love into a world that needs a redo.
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