Scripture in Action

Aneel Aranha is an author, preacher, and evangelist who has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. You can find a huge selection of his reflections, articles, sermons, songs and other resources on his app.

Apple App Store: https://aanet.click/iOS

Google Play Store: https://aanet.click/Android

All Episodes

Scripture in Action

Day 213

October 23, 2025 • Aneel Aranha • Season 3 • Episode 213

0:00 | 15:54

Explore God's transforming judgment through Ezekiel 7-9 and John 3, discovering how divine justice exposes our need while grace offers new birth through faith in Christ.

Day 213 – What We Do in the Dark

Ezekiel 7–9
John 3

Most of us have something we'd rather no one saw. A habit, a thought, a secret we keep behind a closed door. Ezekiel 7 sounds like an alarm that won't stop ringing. The end has come upon the four corners of the land. People throw their silver and gold into the streets, because money can't save them now. In chapter 8, God carries Ezekiel in a vision to the temple in Jerusalem. He digs through a wall and finds seventy elders in the dark, each one burning incense to his own idol. They tell themselves, "The Lord does not see us." Nearby, about twenty-five men stand with their backs to the temple, bowing to the sun. In chapter 9, before judgment falls, a man in linen marks the foreheads of those who grieve over the sin around them. John 3 opens with another meeting in the dark. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, and Jesus tells him he must be born again. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, not to condemn the world but to save it. Held together, today's passages call us to notice the difference. The elders went into the dark to hide from God. Nicodemus came in the dark to find Him.

Underneath it all lies a single truth. Sin grows in hidden places because we think God isn't watching. But God sends His light into our darkness to give us new life, not to condemn us.

How do we carry this into today? Here are three simple steps.

First, take a quiet walk sometime today. As you go, ask God to show you one room in your life that you've kept closed to Him. Before you get home, name it to Him out loud.

Second, if you've been hiding something for a long time, think about telling a trusted, mature believer this week. Confessing to God is enough for forgiveness. But sharing a hidden struggle with a wise friend or pastor often breaks its hold.

Third, the people marked in Ezekiel 9 grieved over sin instead of shrugging it off. When you watch the news or scroll your phone today, stop at least once. Pray over something that grieves God, instead of just moving on.

Before the day gets busy, remember this. Nothing is safe in the dark, but everything can be healed in the light.

Thank you for joining me today. May God give you the courage to be fully seen, the peace of being fully loved, and a heart that cares about what He cares about. Until tomorrow, step into His light and let His love do the rest.