Read Ephesians 5:6-14

It was a true sign of summer.

My bare feet in the cool grass at dusk as the sun turned in for the night. Chasing an illusion that could only be seen for a second when it lit. Grabbing the little critter, I cupped it in my mind, as a captive. Between the cracks of my hand I could see the glow of its light. My laughter and joy as I darted in an attempt to capture each twinkle delighted my parents and I’m sure it delighted my Heavenly Father as well. Perhaps God had children in mind when He created the lightning bug.

As adults we lose the wonder of this childhood game. We grow accustomed to the light as well as the darkness. This is Paul’s warning in today’s reading. Although he is writing to believers, he understands that we can be deceived and stray from God’s path. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” In the words of the old hymn, we are prone to wander, prone to leave the lit path and journey in the darkness. Paul reminds us that we are children of light. We are the children of the light of the world and we are to walk as children of that Light.

At the time of creation, God separated the light from the darkness. At the time of our new creation, our salvation, God separated us from darkness and made us children of light. Jesus said in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Are you walking as a child of the light? Have you strayed from the light of God’s word? Just as cobwebs in a dark attic are not visible until a flashlight exposes them, so our sin is revealed when brought into His light. Paul says that the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth. (v. 9) Allow Jesus, The Truth to expose the darkness, the falsehood, and the disobedience. Ask Jesus, The Word, to light your path and keep you from wandering into the darkness.

As a joyful child runs toward the light of a lightning bug on a dark summer evening, we should daily chase after the Light in the midst of living in this dark world. Capture the light, let it shine and set the light free so that others will find the joy of the Light.

Is there anything in your life that you need to bring to the light? Who should you tell about it?

Charline Engle