Day 562: Rise and shine - Ephesians 5 vs 7- 14

In vs 5 Paul said “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.” Now he goes on to say:

7-8 “Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. 9-10 Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” 

11-13 “Take no part in the unfruitful  works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. 14 Therefore it says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'” Ephesians 5:6-14 (English Standard Version)

Paul contrasts the previous lifestyle of these Christians to the new life they'd entered into through Jesus Christ as like moving from darkness to light. (vs 7-8) What does he urge them to do from then on? (vs 9-10)

They were not to walk just IN the light, but to live day by day AS children of light. Their lives must shine in the dark world they were living in. What would that involve according to vs 7-10?

It meant separating themselves from those who were still following lifestyles that were unpleasing to God. They were not to be 'partners' in the sins of others. Instead, they were to make it their aim to find out what was pleasing to God – things that were good, right and true. That's why we read the Bible and spend time with other Christians. What happens when Christians turn away from the sort of deeds that are usually done under cover of darkness? (vs 11-13)

The light of their lifestyle reveals the wrongness of what is done in the dark. I don't think Paul was telling Christians to run around the neighbourhood telling those who weren't Christians how evil they were. I suggest he is simply pointing out that, just as light shows up things that we couldn't see in the dark, so the sort of life Jesus calls us to live will reveal the ugliness of sin. Notice too how he says that, as Christians, we shouldn't get into little huddles to talk about all the wicked things going on.

What do you think vs 14 implies? (He was probably quoting from words that the Old Testament prophet had spoken in Isaiah 26:19 & 60:1)

His words could be intended as a call to unsaved people who were following the sins of the world to wake up and repent. But they could also be a warning to Christians who were flirting with the sins of the world. All the wrongdoing going on around us can become so common that it dulls our senses. Christians can become drowsy and begin to neglect prayer, and listening to God's word. The reason why it's important to keep awake is because of Paul's words when he said: “You may be sure of this - everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God!”

Jesus Christ IS going to return one day in awesome power, and the world will face the righteous judgement of God. People who are 'living in the dark' are ignorant of this, and that day will be an awful surprise. But Paul said to Christians: “You are not in darkness for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-7)

At the beginning of time we read that “God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:4) What was true in the physical world is true in the world when it comes to good and evil. As Christians we are called to rise up from the dark slumber of sin, and to shine out by living in the way Jesus calls us to live.