Children of Light

Ephesians 5:8-11, 15-16, 18b-20

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. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  18….Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul called Christians the “children of light”.  As the children of light we are to offer the world our light.  Our light consists of goodness, righteousness and truth.   These things exist in us not because of us or anything we do, but because God dwells in us.  The Holy Spirit leads us to all that is good, encourages us in righteousness, and helps us discover God’s truth.  We are to share these things with the world through our words and deeds.

But the world has many temptations and distractions.  We are to be careful that we do not become caught up in these things.  The Apostle Paul warned Christians in his letter to the Romans, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).”

We are to seek the things of God so that we are filled by the Spirit.  And if we do this our light will shine forth into the darkness and we will be, as Paul described us, the children of light.

May the love of Christ be with you

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)