Light

Live as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8

I was up in the wee hours last night. Now that my babies are teenagers, my mid-night awakenings are my own fault and not their hunger or restlessness. I walked to the back of the house where uncovered windows face the inky backyard, and I was amazed at how just a tiny bit of ambient light chases the darkness away. Regardless of how deep and long and wide the darkness, just a speck of light can reveal things hidden.

I love light. I’ve always lived in houses with lots of windows and copious light. My first act each morning is to throw open the drapes and blinds, and let in the light! Even as night arrives, I hurry to turn on lights and lamps to chase away the shadows.

Is this what it means to be a child of the light? I don’t think so. Paul says: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord…(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) (Ephesians 5:8-9). If you remove the parenthetical explanation, the text reads, Live as children of light and find out what pleases the Lord (Ephesians 5:8-10).

Living as a child of the light means living a life that pleases the Lord…a life that honors Him and reveres Him. But how can we do that? Jesus tells us, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). We must follow Jesus by allowing Him to live through us to impact the world around us. This is how we walk in the light as children of Light.

Have you ever noticed that a flashlight doesn’t light up all the darkness? Likewise, Christ in us lights our paths a few steps at a time…and as we move forward in trust, His light illumines more of the way.

Lord, make me a child of Light, that I might please you, walking in goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Jill Hardin