Ephesians 5 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
In verses 8-14, you do not have to be a Biblical scholar to see the words light and darkness over and over again.
Light Darkness
Light in the Lord 8 at one time you were darkness 8
Children of light 8
Fruit of light: all good, right true 9
Take no part in unfruitful works of darkness
Exposed by the light . . . visible 13
Anything that become vis is light 14
Christ will shine on you 14
From the few verses above, we see how God dwells in and ushers in light. While Satan dwells in and ushers in darkness. Therefore, believers are light and ought to live in the light. Unbelievers are in darkness and love darkness. So the idea of seeing or being blind is a Biblical theme here in Ephesians and a theme that the gospel of John especially uses.
Our culture talks about being woke. Usually that refers to being cognizant of racial issues or being supportive of gay rights. So the culture understands being unaware, not seeing, being in darkness. And they understand when someone finally gets it or is finally able to see.
In the Bible, the people who are able to see live a certain way. “3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, “5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
If you are in the light, there are certain things you do and certain things you do not. God cares what a Christian says, does, thinks about and how that person lives. God expects us to live in a way that demonstrates light.
People in darkness live according to their nature. Pigs don’t fly, horses do not swim like a fish, and a fish cannot soar like an eagle. So those in darkness live, speak, and create values according to their nature.
So what do we do with this dichotomy? First, we are not to be partners with them but we are not to shun them either. “7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light . . .”
“For at one time you were darkness” balances “do not become partners . . . .” So we are to not be married to an unbeliever not enter business associations or binding agreement with unbelievers. Yet, we must temper that rejection with the reminder that we were once like they are. It is only God’s grace that we experienced a changed life. If you think of pity in a non-condescending way, we ought to have compassion, pity, or understanding for unbelievers. We are under-standing toward unbelievers because we were once in darkness.
Darkness and light. We were once darkness now we are light. While we are not to go back to darkness our gentleness to those in darkness is because darkness is familiar to us. Listening because we love is a good first step to living in the Light. But living in the light in all we do, say, and think, is an absolute must for every believer.
Living as children of the light should be winsome and attractive to those who do not know Christ. Our light is like the soft, beckoning light of a front door welcoming a family member home. Our light is not the glaring bright white light shining in the eyes of someone in the dark. The light of Christ welcomes, warms, invites, and comforts. While it first exposes our sin, Christ’s light draws us into the eternal life of Christ. May God help our weak, imperfect lights to bring others to our Lord Christ.