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March 4, 2024
- By Ed Powell
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"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." Ephesians 5:8-10
What do you think it means to "live as children of the light"? We may get some idea of our duty and its meaning when we search the heavens. The planets are all illuminated by the sun. They have no capacity within themselves to shine so brightly but simply "reflect the light" of the sun. They impart to us the light they have received from the sun. So we are reflectors of the Son of Righteousness, imparting the light we receive from Him. Within ourselves we have no capacity to reflect the "brightness of His glory." Paul says we must "shine forth as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life, making our light to so shine before men that they see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven" (Philippians 2:15,16; Matthew 5:16).
Paul's appeal is made from what we were, once darkness, to what we are, light in the Lord. We are to live in keeping with what we are "in Christ." The fruit of such a life is expressed in our life as "goodness, righteousness, and truth." It is His life being lived through us, proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. To live as children of the light, we will delight to do His will, walk in the way of His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word, and making every step a prelude to our "walking worthy of the Lord unto all."
HOW are we to live? Paul says in Ephesians 5:15-21, "Be very careful, therefore, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."
To so "LIVE" is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Greek word for "be" in this verse is in a tense that emphasizes "continual action," meaning to "be constantly filled." We will not receive "more of His Spirit" than when we were initially saved. But so often, the Holy Spirit does not have full and free access to all of our lives. He therefore is quenched, saddened, and grieved. God's desire is that every believer be "continually filled to overflowing," a daily yielding to the Spirit so that He may fill our lives afresh to an "overflowing measure."
It is our privilege to be "filled with the Spirit" according to our capacity, having all of our faculties and powers subject to His control. BY HIM, our understanding may be enlightened, so that we will "view everything from a godly perspective." BY HIM, our will may be regulated to be "conformed to the mind and will of God." BY HIM, our affections will be set aflame so that the "whole of our personality will be melted and cast into the very mold of Christ." Being "filled with the Spirit" IS NOT receiving more of the Spirit; rather, it is the SPIRIT POSSESSING MORE OF US!
© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.
This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-03-04&print=1
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