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Living as Children of Light

Words of Faith Final

Living as Children of Light

Words of Faith 3-30-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

www.faithfellowshipweb.com

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Ephesians 5

[8] For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of Light [9] (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) [10] and find out what pleases the Lord.

 

     Here in chapter five, the Spirit has clearly set forth the foundation for living that is the basis for marriage, family, and all of life.  But there is more to this.  We do not simply stand upon a firm foundation.  We do not strive from a great start.  We do not reach forth from a solid vantage point.  All such striving and reaching is destined to failure.  We do not strive; rather, we live as children of Light.

     Live as children of Light? What does that mean?  Listen carefully and you will hear, and see. The Word does not say you were once "in" the darkness.  It says that you "were" darkness.  It does not say that now you are "in" the Light.  It says that you "are" Light.  That is pretty powerful.  And it is quite different in meaning. 

     Before you were made new in Christ, you were darkness.  The Greek word skotos means shadiness or obscurity. You weren't just "in the shadows," you were the shadows! Now you are light. The Greek word phos means that which shines or makes manifest, especially by rays; luminousness which illuminates.  That is who you are, your new identity in Christ.

     Jesus said, "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).  He also said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14).  He does not simply show us the Light or illuminate our lives; He makes us light to the world.

     Because of this, we are called to live as children of Light… and find out what pleases the Lord.  We are called to live as children of illumination in the Lord.  Our call is not to find out what pleases us, what will please the most people, or even what will make the majority happy.  Our call as Light is to find out what pleases the Lord as we live a life that illuminates the world around us. Why? Because the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

     This will be the focus in the next few verses-- What pleases the Lord, and what is the pattern of a walk that illuminates the world around us.  Before we dive into those verses, it is the perfect time to stop and reflect on the power of this truth. 

      Here is the deal.  Jesus did not just call you out of darkness to stand in the shadows.  He did not call you to walk around in the gray areas of life.  He did not call you to enjoy the Light or feel good about illumination.  He did not call you to shout at the darkness or even point at the Light.  Jesus called you to be light in a world that is dark.  Jesus took you who were darkness and made you Light.  Jesus took that which was opposed to the Light and made it an instrument of Light.  Anything other than this will not find a walk that is in the pattern of His call.  Anything less will not please Him because it is not of Him; it is only empty striving.

 

      Father God, thank You for the Light.  Thank You for making me Light from darkness.  I don't really understand all of that, but I trust that You know what You are doing and that You are shining through me.  Help me to find a walk that pleases You, not me or the world.  Help me to find a path that honors You and illuminates the world around me.  In Jesus' Name.