DEVOTION – DAY 503

Ephesians 5:8 “Living As Children Of Light”

Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light.”

This verse reveals to us a contrast between light and darkness. In the Bible, light is often a symbol purity and truth. The glorified Jesus is always surrounded by a blinding pure light. In the Bible, on the other hand, darkness is often a symbol of the world and sin. The world we live in is often seen as a very dark place because of sin’s grip on it. It is only when people turn to Jesus can His light reveal the darkness and sin that is in their lives, and their need to be saved through Jesus. 

In this verse, Paul explained that people started out living in darkness. People did not have a relationship with the Living God because sin had blinded them to God, the Almighty Creator. Sin had separated people from God, who is Holy. But God has provided a way for people to come to Him through repentance of their sins. They can do so by believing in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who took their place on the cross for the atonement of their sins. When they do that, they are taken out of darkness into the light that is God’s presence. Believers are able to live as children of the light.

We find an example of someone who was living in darkness in John 4:1-30. She was a woman living in Samaria. She was a social outcast because the people in her village regarded her a woman of loose morals. She had multiple failed relationships. She was living with a man she was not married to. It was a scandalous arrangement. So, she was avoided by the other villagers as a bad influence. She was living in darkness. But she met Jesus by a well outside her village. That encounter caused her to want the light of salvation offered by Him. She accepted His gift of salvation. She was brought out of darkness into His marvelous light. She was so excited by her encounter that she immediately ran back to her village to tell everyone about her encounter with Jesus. She wanted her villagers to see Jesus for themselves, and to experience His light. When the villagers saw her, they were amazed by the change in this woman who had been a social outcast. She seemed different and so, the villagers followed her to meet Jesus.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship you as our Holy, Righteous, Merciful and Loving God. Thank you for drawing us out of darkness to live in your marvelous Light. Please help us to live lives worthy of your love and sacrifice for us. We humbly pray in the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. Are you living in darkness or you living as Children of God in His marvelous Light? 
  2. If you are living in darkness, what are the sins in your life that is weighing you down in your darkness? How burdened does that make you feel?
  3. Do you want the weight of your sins removed from you? If so, will you surrender all the sins and repent before Jesus and invite Him into your life as your Lord and Savior?
  4. If you have put your faith and trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, how can you help someone to also come out of darkness in the world to live a child of God in His light?