August 1, 2019 -- Ephesians 5:7-8 - - Walking in the Light

…for at one time you were in darkness,

but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light

Ephesians 5:7-8 English Standard Version

This morning I was flipping stations as I was listening to the radio. I just caught the last little bit of a preacher’s talk. I don’t know who it was but I really appreciated this illustration he gave. He noted when he walks into a nice restaurant with his wife often the light level is a bit lower. It is ‘ambiance’. The waitress hands him a menu, and his eyes haven’t adjusted from the bright outside light to the lowered light level so in the restaurant it seems he can’t see a thing. He wants to ask: “Turn up the light so I can read the menu!” After a couple of minutes his eyes adjust and he can read the menu. Then he made the point so beautifully—our eyes can adjust to whatever level of light we are in; so we also can adjust our actions accordingly to whatever light or darkness we are walking in.

The devil would have us lower the light level. “Just a bit darker” He is whispering: “No problem really. Not much of a compromise.” But the Bible calls us to live as children of light—those who have put off the deeds of darkness. Christians delight in the things of God. We want to walk in the light because we remember the shameful and sinful things we did while we were caught in the darkness. Since Jesus has rescued us from the darkness of our sins, we want to walk in the light of His love and forgiveness.

Here is a very familiar hymn, loved by many (and I believe it is in over 300 different hymn-books!) which wonderfully describes walking in the light of Jesus and His Word.

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

John H. Sammis 1887

God of Majesty, the Bible describes You as the One Who lives in unapproachable light. What glory and splendor belong to You alone. Blessed are You. Thank You for making known to simple people such as we are, the glory and weight of Your brilliance. Thank You for drawing us up out of the darkness and bringing us into the light of Jesus. Thank You, Spirit of God, that You guard us in the way of Jesus and by the Word increase our joy-filled trust and obedience. Amen.