Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret."
Text: Ephesians 5:11-12
CLEAR LINES DRAWN
The apostle Paul drew clear lines between the kingdom of God and the realm of darkness. All children of light should walk in paths that he knows would be acceptable to the Lord.
THE IMAGERY OF “LIGHT”
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ may also be called “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Developing this use of the imagery of “light” Paul outlined the following ideas:-
1. Light characterizes the life of the believer
“You are light in the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8a)
2. The lifestyle of the believer should also be characterized by “light”
“Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8b)
3. Light will naturally expose “darkness”
“But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:13)
4. Giver of light
“Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:14)
5. Fruit of Light
In an alternative reading in the Greek text, the focus on light received even greater attention. This alternative reading may be translated thus:
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness,
righteousness, and truth.
EPHESIANS 5:9
NO FELLOWSHIP BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS
To be consistent, light and darkness cannot co-exist together. If there is light, darkness is dispersed. If darkness prevails, then light is absent. How does this apply to every day life? The word “fellowship” (“sugkoinoeite”) was used to emphatically teach the following thoughts:-
1. Close fellowship is impossible
The idea behind the word “sugkoinoeite” suggests “very close fellowship”. This is unacceptable!
2. The second idea of “continuing close fellowship”
This too would be both impossible and unacceptable!