“Be the light,” a young mother said as she sent her children off to school. “Be what you are! You are light—now walk that way!”
It’s a simple charge, yet it reaches into every corner of life.
In an age where relative truth and moral confusion pull the world deeper into spiritual darkness, the call to live as children of light has never been more urgent. In Ephesians 5, the apostle Paul shows us what it looks like to walk in a way that reflects who we are in Christ.
Walk in Love
Read: Ephesians 5:1–2
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
The Greek word for imitators is mimētēs, where we get the word mime. A mime communicates without words, drawing attention not to themselves, but to the story being told. In the same way, our lives are meant to silently—but powerfully—tell the story of Christ.
Jesus said the world would recognize His followers by their love for one another (John 13:34–35). Walking in love means choosing self-sacrifice over self-indulgence. While the world promotes lust and self-gratification, Christ calls us to reflect His love—love that gives, serves, and lays itself down for others.
Walk in Light
Read: Ephesians 5:8–10
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…”
To walk in the light means more than avoiding sinful behavior. Paul reminds us that children of light also avoid appearing to approve of darkness (vv. 7, 11–12). Instead, our lives are to bear “the fruit of light”—what is good, right, and true.
- Good reflects God’s goodness through acts of kindness and compassion.
- Right aligns with God’s standards revealed in His Word.
- True holds fast to God’s unchanging, absolute truth without compromise.
A life that pleases God is marked by the growing evidence of the Spirit’s work within us (Galatians 5:22–23).
Walk in Wisdom
Read: Ephesians 5:15–16
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Wisdom doesn’t happen accidentally. It requires attentiveness—careful, intentional choices made day by day. In a culture that distorts good and trades truth for lies, walking wisely is urgent.
Paul concludes that wise believers are continually filled with the Holy Spirit, seek to understand the Lord’s will, overflow with gratitude and praise, and place others above themselves. This Spirit-filled life will stand in sharp contrast to the world around us.
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). Light reveals what darkness hides—not to condemn, but so God can heal. What the enemy uses to ensnare and destroy, God exposes in order to restore.
let’s Pray
Lord, thank You for calling me out of darkness and into Your marvelous light. Teach me to walk in love, light, and wisdom so my life reflects Your truth and grace. Fill me with Your Spirit, help me redeem the time You’ve given me, and use me to shine Your light where it is needed most. Amen.
