Disciples’ Path Week 6: Our UMC Vows

Vows 1 & 2: Renouncing Sin + Resisting Evil

Scripture:
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” — Ephesians 5:8

We begin our journey with honesty. The first two vows ask us to renounce the powers of darkness and resist evil, injustice, and oppression. These words are not about guilt—they’re about clarity. They invite us to step out of the shadows and into God’s healing light. Sin distorts our vision. Evil works subtly in our surroundings and systems. But God opens our eyes to what harms us and what harms others.

To renounce sin means we stop naming darkness as harmless. We stop pretending that what is not of God can coexist with the life God is building within us. When we resist evil, we draw on a power that is not our own but given by the Spirit. The early Christians didn’t resist injustice because they were bold—they resisted because Christ was bold within them.

This vow also reminds us that transformation begins with seeing. We cannot turn from what we refuse to acknowledge. When the Spirit illuminates a harmful habit, a destructive attitude, or an unjust situation, that revelation is an act of grace. God exposes only what He intends to heal and redeem.

And the beauty of this vow is that God never asks us to renounce or resist alone. He always pairs conviction with empowerment. The same Spirit who reveals the truth strengthens us to walk in it. Our renouncing and resisting become acts of hope—evidence that the light of Christ is already at work in us.

Practical Step:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one harmful pattern—either personal or social—that you need to renounce or resist today.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, shine Your light into every corner of my heart. Reveal what You desire to heal, and give me the courage to renounce what is not from You. Strengthen me by Your Spirit to resist evil in all its forms, and lead me into the freedom of Your truth. Amen.

Song Suggestion:
▶ Break Every Chain — Jesus Culture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XwbVCI_mkw