Living in the light

Devotion 2                   Rev. Samuel N. Modise               2013

Living in the light        Ephesians 5:1 “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children …”       Extra Reading: Ephesians 5:1, 2, 6-14.

Living in the light is quite opposite to living in darkness. Here Paul uses “light” to describe three distinct features of the lives of those who are seeking to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. The term “light”, as used in the New Testament, signifies that which shines, illuminates, or makes manifest. Now, let’s go back to the distinct features: 1) Light is the illumination of God’s Word which has shone into the minds and hearts of God’s people; 2) The followers of God and His son Jesus Christ are to be the lights and shine forth to others; and 3) Those striving to follow Jesus Christ must walk in the light they have received by living their lives in accord with its principles.

Paul mentions some very important lessons in verses 13, 14: “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” NIV Bible. An important principle given here is the fact that light makes “all things” manifest, revealing them to those whose eyes are open to see. God has made manifest His truth-His plans, and purposes-to those sincerely seeking to know them. He has done this through His Son, Jesus Christ. It was Jesus, the representative of God, that came to earth to “bear witness unto the truth” (John 18:37), shedding forth the light of the Gospel message to His disciples. It is this message of truth, founded by God Himself, and manifested by His Son, which has continued to shine into the hearts of Jesus’ followers throughout this present Gospel Age.

Prayer: Father God, help us to live in the light. Make us to shine our light in a dark world in which we live. We ask for these in Jesus’ name, Amen!