We are continuing on our journey of learning how to live as Christ would have us live, as new people.

Ephesians 5:11-14, KJV: “¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. ¹² For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. ¹³ But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. ¹⁴ Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Again, as in verse 7, we are advised not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. We don’t want to be partners or participate in things that have no value for God’s kingdom. We are alive now in Christ. These are things that we did before, but not now.

Paul takes it even further. It is not enough to refrain from participating. We aren’t even to mention these things. Doing so is shameful.

The light breaks through the darkness. The light exposes the darkness and chases it away. Have you ever been in true darkness? In 2004, I experienced Hurricane Ivan. The destruction was intense. We were without power for days. The daytime was fine, but the first night we had not thought to make sure the flashlights were readily accessible when night fell. It was DARK. I mean… dark. When we found the flashlights, the flashlight beam broke that darkness. (And, yes, we had quickly learned our lesson and had a designated place for flashlights after that!) In the same way, light exposes the darkness.

As believers and followers of Christ, we are to be light. We are to awaken from sleep. In other words, we are to be productive and not slothful. We are now alive. We must rise from what we were (dead spiritually). We must live. We must be living for Him, as lights for Him. (Matthew 5:14-16) Christ, our Messiah, is there to give light to us, to guide us.

Isn’t this amazing? We, as we forsake the things of our old life, can be light for others in the darkness of the world. Yes, even those of us who are home-bound! Selah. Amen.