“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. walk as children of light-“

Ephesians 5:8 CSB

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine!”

Hello, friend!

I hope you sang “This Little Light of Mine” with me just now.

It’s a great song, isn’t it?

So simple that children can learn it easily. So true that adults hold onto it for years and years.

In Ephesians 5:8, God tells us through the Apostle Paul that those who believe in Jesus Christ are now “light in the world”.

What does this name mean for us?

In John 8:12, Jesus tells us that He is the Light of the world and that those who follow Him will have the Light of light.

God calls us light because in Christ, we the light of Christ.

As carriers of Jesus’ light in the world, God directs us to “walk as children of the light”.

How do we embrace the name of light? How do we walk as children of light?

Paul tells us how in verses 9 through 11 of that same passage:

“for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth – testing what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

We do what is good, what is right, and what is true.

We don’t participate in the works of darkness; we don’t do what is evil, unrighteous, or false.

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells us:

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

We let our light shine by doing good works and giving the glory to God.

We don’t keep the time, talents, treasure, or truth that God has given us to ourselves; we don’t hide it from the world.

In Romans 13:11-14, we learn that as those who have been saved by Christ, we are called to lay aside the “deeds of darkness” such as drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, conflict, and jealousy and other lusts of the flesh. In that same passage, we are called to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Source of Light.

Brothers and Sisters, the name “Light” reminds us once again that we ought to look and sound and be different from the world.

The enemy wants us to keep the gospel veiled, keep our light under a basket, so that the lost will continue to wander in darkness. The enemy wants us to take credit for the good things that we do, for the blessings we receive, so that the lost will see only our efforts and not our Almighty God.

Remember, just as Paul wrote to the early church at Corinth centuries ago, “We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as bond-servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).

How we present ourselves to the world becomes what the world believes about our Savior and our God.

Do your words and works accurately portray who Jesus is and all that He has done for you?

Do your attitudes and actions shine the light of Jesus into a dark world?

Is the Father glorified by your life? Are you intentional in pointing others to the Source of the light within you?

I’m certainly reflecting on these questions today and asking God to show me where I am not living out the name of “Light” as He intends me to do. I pray you’ll do the same.

See you tomorrow, friend. Until then, that light of yours, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

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