Walking as Children of Light

Dear Family in Christ-

The appointed second lesson for this past Sunday was Ephesians 5:8-14. One of the images that the author uses throughout the letter is the idea that Christians are a part of one family. He uses words like adoption and inheritance, asserting that we are “members of God’s household.” In chapter five, the writer argues that if your parent is light, then you should resemble your parent in the way that you live.

⁸Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—⁹for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. ¹⁰Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; ¹³but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
 “Sleeper, awake!
  Rise from the dead,
 and Christ will shine on you.”

Especially meaningful to me is verse 8 which reminds us that our identity is changed when we become followers of Christ. We are to be light, but not unmoving or static. We are to walk as children of the light. The word translated as walk, peripateo, is similar to what we mean when we say, “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” Our identity is meant to move us outward and have an impact on the way that we act.

Being children of the light isn’t always easy, especially when you are trying to keep the kids on track; work from home and be attentive to your own needs. Feeling like a part of the family of God isn’t easy when you’ve been stuck in your living quarters without visitors or the opportunity to spend time with the rest of the “family.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve become somewhat bored with myself, which doesn’t help me shine bright with the light of Christ.

So how can we refuel ourselves so that our lights are bright enough to be seen beyond the confines of our own homes? I think it goes back to that sense of being part of a larger family. We need to maintain and make new connections. We may not be able to gather in the sanctuary but the phones still work, the internet is still on and the postal service hasn’t dwindled away. Please reach out to someone today and let Christ’s light shine through you. Remind them that you are related as children of God. Be a sign of cheer and good hope. And as you shine for them, I am pretty certain that your “reserves” will be replenished rather than depleted.