Walk as children of light

Article for August 18, 2024

Ephesians 5:6–8a 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not associate with them; 8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Believe this, the wrath of God comes to those who are disobedient.  We hear many who try to deceive us, and many actually succeed.  The deceiver does not fail because they are not smooth talkers.  No, many deceivers succeed because we only hear what we want to hear even if they did not say it. 

Yes, most of the time it is our own fault that we are deceived.  We hear what we want and do nothing to validify what we have heard.  Because we live our lives in the fast lane, we seldom take the time to make sure what we heard or even have seen is the truth.  We are a lazy generation, and we really don’t care all that much.

Sometimes I think we are still in the darkness just looking toward the light and hoping one day we will see the light.  It seems everything that is worthwhile is too bothersome to investigate.  It is easier to listen to the deceiver and wonder why we did once it’s too late.

The light that is in the world exposes the darkness of the deceiver.  But for us to see what the light has exposed requires us to open our eyes.  When we have been too long in the darkness the light blinds us, and we run afraid back into the darkness.  That’s why the light knew it had to come to us in our darkness.

Ephesians 5:8b–12 Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

Before you make your next move, ask yourself who you are going to please.  You might be pleasing the evil one.  You might be pleasing yourself.  You might be pleasing God.  The winning pair is to please God and yourself at the same time.  God wants us as His children, and that we should know we are the children of light.  This pleases God and should please us.

If indeed we are the children of light our goal, then is to walk in the light, and avoid the darkness of sin that devours our time, body, and soul.  One needs to be able to decern those things that are bad, and those things that are good.  We need to be knowledgeable of those who are around us and those we listen to.  Do not listen to just one side but listen, gain knowledge, and discern what one is tempting you to do.

Ephesians 5:13–14 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says,

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

      Turning our lives towards the light and walking steadily into the light may take some work.  But as soon as you turn to the light there, with open arms, is Jesus Christ waiting to receive you.  In the dark we sleep but as we turn to the light that calls us every day we wake up to a brighter life.  The brighter life is Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth and the life.

Ephesians 5:15–17 15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

We live in a time where foolishness is running amuck.  Everyone is getting caught up in the wind of the world that is blowing everyone this way and that way.  No one knows right from wrong, up from down or is there really men and women or are we dogs or cats.  What is worse, those that seem to care, only care by mouth and not by actions.

Many will not think that to walk as the wise is to walk with Jesus Christ.  There is only one way to be saved from this world whether we live in it or fall asleep.  Jesus is the way of true wisdom, and you can’t walk in the wisdom of Jesus Christ unless you know Him. 

Many are throwing away the importance of God’s word and have for many years.  This is the foolishness of mankind who are of the world.  To know Jesus is to know His holy Scriptures and to know the Holy Scriptures is the beginning of wisdom.  The wisdom of the world is to kill us for its happiness.  The wisdom of God is to save us for His and our joy.

Ephesians 5:18–21 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

We have much to thank our Lord Jesus Christ who suffered and died for our sake and for His Father’s sake.  If we receive nothing more than eternal life, we have much to thank our Lord Jesus Christ who gives us mercy and grace through His resurrection. 

We truly need to remember what Jesus did for us who are sinners as we consume the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.  To know our Lord through His word is to love our Lord and to love one another.  For our Lord is the light, the wisdom, and the life of those who believe. 

Amen.

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May