Are You Walking as a Child of the Light?

March 20, 2023

By Brooke Holt

“Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:7-10

Just recently, our family moved from Houston, TX to Jacksonville, FL. Moves have an aura of excitement as well as challenge. One of my greatest challenges in new places is navigating those new spaces without light. Often, I wake up before dawn when the house is quiet, still, and very dark. My goal is to keep the house quiet and still so that I can enjoy time with the Lord. For my first few days in Jacksonville, I was anything but quiet! I just couldn’t get my bearings in the dark and often bumped into walls or tripped over unexpected obstacles. The darkness of the new home created confusion, pain, and many missteps for me.

Throughout the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul taught the church in Ephesus how to live in the light of Christ. Before receiving the Gospel, they were people of darkness -- stuck in sin and ignorant of truth. But through Paul’s proclamation of Christ’s salvation, they were rescued from that sin, ignorance, and darkness. They became children of the light.

In this passage, Paul admonishes them to remember the darkness, to remember what God had done for them in Christ, and then to truly live as children of the light -- to love one another as Christ loved them, to serve one another, to build up the body of Christ, and to manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

God’s people would say that sounds good and reasonable, maybe even easy. However, it is critical to remember the challenge of leaving behind the old, familiar ways of the darkness and learning the new ways of the Lord. Thus, Paul reminds his readers that children of the light do what is good, true, honorable, and loving. Children of the light seek the Lord and seek to do his will. They will stumble and fall at times, but the light of God’s grace remains ever-present and shines into the darkness and to lead them back into his will and to walking in his ways.

Just as it took me time to adjust to my new home and surroundings, so it takes time for those who have left the darkness to embrace the new way of Christ. Lent offers a time for the followers of Jesus Christ to remember the road to Calvary, the work he did to free them from darkness, and to lead them into his light. It also calls you to repent for the time spent in darkness or the times you have left the light to go back to the familiar - who you were before God’s light shined into your darkness.

May you know the joy of God’s holy light being poured out into your life today and may you then walk as a child of the light.

Reflection:

Are there any areas of your life that need to be exposed by the light of Christ? Today is the day to let his light shine into those places. The Lord longs to forgive, restore, and lead you in his holy and perfect plan for you. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resource:

The Resurrected Life: Making All Things New - The Bible promises that those who are in Christ are "new creatures." But how does that transformation take place? This unique Easter-season small group Bible study provides a space in which we can discover what it truly means to live a new life. As we listen, we'll learn how the resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything - for us. Begin the journey to new life today!