Walk as Children of Light

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’” (Ephesians 5:8-14)

We are living in a time when darkness permeates all aspects of our world. There is less and less light visible in the world around us as the darkness continues to grow. Darkness has crept into our schools, into our entertainment, into our government, and into our homes and our families. If you look closely, you may even see darkness creeping into the church as we continue to compromise God’s Word as a nation.

Yet, amongst all the darkness in this world, we are to walk as children of light; for we are no longer part of the darkness, but light in the Lord through His saving grace. So what does it mean to walk as children of light? Paul reminds us that we are to be: finding out what is acceptable to the Lord, having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness and instead, exposing the unfruitful works of darkness for what they are.

So what is acceptable to the Lord and how can we find out? Well, we cannot find what is acceptable to the Lord by looking at the world that’s for sure. We must find the answers we seek in God’s Word. Only through consistent study and meditation on God’s Word can we truly discover what is acceptable to the Lord our God. For as we grow to know and understand the Lord more and more through the study of His Word, we develop a deeper relationship and knowing of who He is and therefore greater wisdom in what is acceptable to Him.

What does it mean to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness? Does it mean that maybe we can dabble in a little of this and a little of that, maybe throw in some of the other…I mean after all, it’s not like it rules my life right? WRONG, we cannot walk in darkness and in light! When we compromise even a little and allow ourselves to fellowship even in the slightest with the unfruitful works of darkness, we are allowing darkness to gain a foothold in us that will take us away from fellowship with the Lord one little compromise at a time. So, in order to say “yes” to God and walk as children of light, we must say “no” and put off ALL unfruitful works of darkness. Then, we must expose them, for all things that are exposed are made clear by the light.

God is calling to us to awake from our spiritual sleep, our spiritual slumber; to arise from the dead, arise from the darkness; and Christ will give us light. It is time to stop sleep walking through life and start sharing my light with the world. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16) How about you, are you ready to let your light shine?


COACH’S CALL TO ACTION

• What does it look like for you to walk as a child of light?
  
• What would others notice about you?
  
• Pray the Lord would expose any fellowship you may have with the unfruitful works of darkness and journal what the Lord reveals to you this week.

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