This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Building Together: “Let the Light get in!” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 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.”
Have you ever been awakened by the light of the morning?
When a room is dark, it is easy to stay in bed. The darkness makes everything feel quiet and comfortable. Then the sun comes through the window. Suddenly you can see. The day has begun. The light awakens you and calls you to get up and live.
Paul uses a similar picture in Ephesians 5. He says, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”
Notice that Paul does not say, “You were walking in darkness, but now you have learned how to walk in the light.” He says something much stronger. You were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
This is about more than behavior. It is about identity.
Apart from Christ, we are sinners living in darkness. Sin affects what we think, what we desire, and how we see God and others. We cannot simply educate ourselves out of sin or work hard enough to make ourselves spiritually alive.
But God does what we cannot do.
He brings us into the light through Christ.
Colossians 1:13 says that God “has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Through Jesus, we have been rescued. Through baptism and faith, we have been united with Christ. Our sins are forgiven. We have been given a new identity.
That changes how we respond when God’s Word exposes sin in our lives.
Sometimes we don’t want the light. We would rather keep certain things hidden. We would rather avoid admitting our selfishness, our bitterness, our lust, our pride, or our anger.
But God’s light does not expose our sin to destroy us. It exposes our sin so that we can bring it to Jesus.
Think about a doctor examining a wound. The doctor may need to expose something that is painful or unpleasant, but the purpose is healing. The problem cannot be treated if it remains hidden.
God’s Word works the same way. When it exposes our sin, it is doing the loving work of bringing us to repentance and pointing us to our Savior.
Romans 13:11 says, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber.” The Christian life is not about remaining asleep in old patterns of sin. Christ has awakened us to a new life.
So don’t run from the light today.
If God’s Word reveals something that needs to change, confess it. If you have hurt someone, seek forgiveness. If you have been walking in a sinful habit, turn away from it. If you have been hiding something, bring it into the light.
And then remember the most important truth: your sin does not have the final word. Jesus does.
At the cross, Jesus took your darkness upon Himself. He suffered for your sin and rose again so that you could live in His light.
You are not who you once were.
You are light in the Lord.
So wake up. Get up. Walk in the light Christ has given you!
Reflect: What is something in your life that God’s Word may be exposing that you have been tempted to keep hidden? How does knowing that Christ has forgiven you give you courage to bring your sin into the light?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for rescuing me from the darkness of sin and bringing me into Your light. Forgive me for the times I have tried to hide my sin instead of bringing it to You. Give me courage to listen when Your Word exposes what needs to change in my life. Lead me to genuine repentance and assure me of Your complete forgiveness. Help me live as a child of light today. Let Your light shine through my words, my choices, and my relationships so that others may see Your grace. Amen.