Scripture: Ephesians
5:8-14
Ephesians 4:17 is a turning point in this letter at which
Paul begins to focus on the conduct of the Ephesian Christians. He says, “[Y]ou
must no longer walk as the Gentiles do….,” and he contrasts sinful behavior
with godly behavior. Chapter 5 begins with the call to “be imitators of God,”
and to “walk in love” (Eph 5:1-2). This reading speaks on the same topic in
terms of darkness and light, reminding us that we were once darkness, but are
now light in Christ. Similar to the other readings this week, there is a sense
of blindness in sin as we walked in darkness, but now, in the light of Jesus we
walk seeing that which is good and right and true.
Teaching
When Paul says, “… at one time you were darkness, but now
you are light in the Lord,” he is referring to our spiritual state. The
Lutheran Confessions echo this commentary on the state of humanity saying, “In
regard to spiritual and divine matters Scripture labels people by nature ‘darkness.’”[1]
There is a great switch that takes place when Jesus redeems us. The difference
that is made is as great as the difference between darkness and light. So Paul
tells us that we were once sin – all that we did was sin and sin was in our
very nature – but now through faith in Christ we have become holy – perfect in
Jesus’ redemption and forgiveness.
How then should we live if we have made this incredible move
from being darkness to being light? Paul answers, “Walk as children of the
light… (Eph 5:8).” Not only are we to reject the deeds of darkness, but we are
to be found engaged in things that are good and right and true. Our lives
become reflections of our savior who shines in the darkness of this world of
sin to draw people to his salvation.
Life
Sit in a dark room and contemplate what it means to be
darkness and then to become light. Notice how the darkness hides things from
sight. Notice how the light makes them visible. When we are in our sin we are
like that dark room; sometimes we are even unaware that we have sin in our
lives when we are in the darkness! But when the light of Christ shines in us we
become aware of our sins, and not only our sin, but we become aware of our
Savior so that we can freely repent and experience God’s forgiveness.
Because we are naturally darkness, we do well to pray for the
Spirit of God to enlighten us. That is, when we pray we can ask him to fill us
with faith in our Lord Jesus, make us aware our sinful state, and then help us
to trust that we are forgiven through the blood of Jesus, washed of our sins,
and that we have now become light. We can pray that he will empower us to walk
as children of the light and live our lives in ways that show Jesus’
forgiveness and redemption.
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