A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

YOU ARE LIGHT

Ephesians 5:8-10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” 

“Now you are light in the world.” (Ephesians 5:8) This is also what Jesus said as recorded by Matthew, “You are the light of the world.” Jesus went on to say, “ . . . let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14,16)   

By God choosing you to be His child He has chosen you to light the world. St. Paul tells you how you are to do this, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16) God has made you a light to the world “ . . . that His salvation will reach to the end of the world.” (Isaiah 49:6)   

Why does the world need the light Jesus has chosen you to be to the world? Those who are of the world are living in the darkness of unbelief and are enemies of God. Only the light of Jesus can change this. You, as a believer in Him are His witness to the world living in unbelief. He has chosen you to reflect His light that drives away the darkness in which they live. The Gospel says of Jesus that “(He is) the light of the world. Whoever follows (Him) will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

Through the pen of Peter, the Holy Spirit urges you to “live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.” (1 Peter 2:12) As the moon reflects the light of the sun, you a Christian reflect the light of Jesus unto the world around you. The Holy Spirit is using you to spread the good news of God’s love to sinners and His desire that “all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth . . . Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Timothy 2:4,8-10) 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, cause me to light the world with the good news of God’s love for sinners for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I'm gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine. 

Ev'rywhere I go,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Ev'rywhere I go,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Ev'rywhere I go,
I'm gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine. 

Jesus gave it to me,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Jesus gave it to me,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Jesus gave it to me,
I'm gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine.  (Harold Dixon Loes --- Public Domain)