You Are Light
TIME in the Word - Daily Devotional
Together for Inspiration, Motivation, and Encouragement
Verse of the Day - Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
Daily Scripture Reading - Genesis 1
Puritan Catechism
Question #45 - What is required in the second commandment?
Answer - The second commandment requires the receiving, observing (Deut. 32:46; Matt. 28:20), and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God has appointed in His Word (Deut. 12:32).
Devotional Thoughts
Just as we have learned that we were once darkness before being called to faith and new life in Christ, so to we see from this verse that we are now light in the Lord. We have discussed in previous devotions from Ephesians 4 the truth that in Christ we have been given a new heart, a new mind, and a new life. Today we will see just how marvelous a transformation this is when we are converted.
Now we are light! Notice again, it does not say we are in the light. It says we are light. There has been a transformation, a change in our very nature. We are different, changed, and new. Before this change, we were dead in sin, slaves of unrighteousness, and darkness. We were depraved, deceitful, and doomed.
Let us think about the light. Light plays an important role in God's creation. In fact, when God began to create the heavens and the earth the earth was at first without form and void. We read in Genesis 1:2 that "darkness was on the face of the deep." The solution to the presence of darkness then was for God to speak. These are the first words He utters that are recorded for us in Scripture. God said, "Let there be light." And there was light, and the light was good.
God has a specific role for light and for darkness. He uses these often to teach us lessons and to teach us about Himself and His Word. God tells us that He is our "light and salvation" (Ps 27:1), He covers Himself with light (Ps 104:2), His Word is a lamp and light (Ps 119:105), He is an everlasting light (Isa 60:19), and Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12). Light is used to teach us about holiness and purity. It illumines our minds, enlightens our path, instructs our lives, and keeps us from falling.
1 Peter 2:9 tells us, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." This is the great transformation that has taken place now that we are in Christ, and since we know that He is the light of the world He tells us now that WE are also the light of the world (Matt 5:14).
Here as a new creation we are different than what we were. Now we are like Christ. We reflect His glory. We are to look and act, think and speak like Him. Upon being saved by Christ we are made to be like Him and that transformation will continue throughout our lives as we are sanctified and it will end when we are glorified.
As new men and women we have put off the old and put on the new, we have been changed from darkness to light. And now that we are light this is not a private thing that no one can see! We are indeed the light of the world. When we are saved we should notice a difference, but so should those around us. It is like comparing night and day!!
Another aspect to being light in the Lord that I want to mention is that while we were dead in sin now we are "alive to God in Christ" (Rom 6:11). Before, while we were still darkness, we were still living as a natural man, a fallen man, a fleshly and carnal man. 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" and Romans 8:7 tells us "the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."
So we see that before we are born again, while we are still darkness, we cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. Note that it does not say that we will not. It says we cannot. We cannot even know the things of the Spirit of God! We are incapable, as darkness, to comprehend the things of God because those things must be spiritually discerned. But now things are different. Now we are alive to God. We can know and understand the things of God because now we have the Holy Spirit living in us. Now we are light, slaves of righteousness, and new.
The transformation is amazing. By God's grace we are changed from darkness to light, from death to life. Being drawn to Christ by the Spirit and being regenerated by the Word through His calling is indeed a drastic change. From the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God we see our citizenship, loyalties, desires, and lives conformed, transformed, and made new. And in this new life we now are enabled to obey the Word, glorify God, and be holy and righteous.
For all that we could not and would not do before salvation let us focus on the great exchange that has taken place. Christ took God's wrath for our sin upon Himself and has given to us His righteousness. We have been crucified with Him and He now lives in and through us. We are light. We are the light of the world. It is time then that we lived like what we are and stopped trying to hide the light!! Let it shine. Show them what Christ has made of you and pray that He will do the same for the world around you.
Today, keep in mind what you are. You are light.
Links for Further Study
(links to study each daily topic in more detail if you have the desire and the time)
The Light of the World (AUDIO) by Charles Spurgeon
A Burning Witness to the Light by John Piper
Bible Reading For Further Study
Recommended Songs for Worship
Together for Inspiration, Motivation, and Encouragement
Verse of the Day - Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
Daily Scripture Reading - Genesis 1
Puritan Catechism
Question #45 - What is required in the second commandment?
Answer - The second commandment requires the receiving, observing (Deut. 32:46; Matt. 28:20), and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God has appointed in His Word (Deut. 12:32).
Devotional Thoughts
Just as we have learned that we were once darkness before being called to faith and new life in Christ, so to we see from this verse that we are now light in the Lord. We have discussed in previous devotions from Ephesians 4 the truth that in Christ we have been given a new heart, a new mind, and a new life. Today we will see just how marvelous a transformation this is when we are converted.
Now we are light! Notice again, it does not say we are in the light. It says we are light. There has been a transformation, a change in our very nature. We are different, changed, and new. Before this change, we were dead in sin, slaves of unrighteousness, and darkness. We were depraved, deceitful, and doomed.
Let us think about the light. Light plays an important role in God's creation. In fact, when God began to create the heavens and the earth the earth was at first without form and void. We read in Genesis 1:2 that "darkness was on the face of the deep." The solution to the presence of darkness then was for God to speak. These are the first words He utters that are recorded for us in Scripture. God said, "Let there be light." And there was light, and the light was good.
God has a specific role for light and for darkness. He uses these often to teach us lessons and to teach us about Himself and His Word. God tells us that He is our "light and salvation" (Ps 27:1), He covers Himself with light (Ps 104:2), His Word is a lamp and light (Ps 119:105), He is an everlasting light (Isa 60:19), and Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12). Light is used to teach us about holiness and purity. It illumines our minds, enlightens our path, instructs our lives, and keeps us from falling.
1 Peter 2:9 tells us, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." This is the great transformation that has taken place now that we are in Christ, and since we know that He is the light of the world He tells us now that WE are also the light of the world (Matt 5:14).
Here as a new creation we are different than what we were. Now we are like Christ. We reflect His glory. We are to look and act, think and speak like Him. Upon being saved by Christ we are made to be like Him and that transformation will continue throughout our lives as we are sanctified and it will end when we are glorified.
As new men and women we have put off the old and put on the new, we have been changed from darkness to light. And now that we are light this is not a private thing that no one can see! We are indeed the light of the world. When we are saved we should notice a difference, but so should those around us. It is like comparing night and day!!
Another aspect to being light in the Lord that I want to mention is that while we were dead in sin now we are "alive to God in Christ" (Rom 6:11). Before, while we were still darkness, we were still living as a natural man, a fallen man, a fleshly and carnal man. 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" and Romans 8:7 tells us "the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be."
So we see that before we are born again, while we are still darkness, we cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. Note that it does not say that we will not. It says we cannot. We cannot even know the things of the Spirit of God! We are incapable, as darkness, to comprehend the things of God because those things must be spiritually discerned. But now things are different. Now we are alive to God. We can know and understand the things of God because now we have the Holy Spirit living in us. Now we are light, slaves of righteousness, and new.
The transformation is amazing. By God's grace we are changed from darkness to light, from death to life. Being drawn to Christ by the Spirit and being regenerated by the Word through His calling is indeed a drastic change. From the Kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God we see our citizenship, loyalties, desires, and lives conformed, transformed, and made new. And in this new life we now are enabled to obey the Word, glorify God, and be holy and righteous.
For all that we could not and would not do before salvation let us focus on the great exchange that has taken place. Christ took God's wrath for our sin upon Himself and has given to us His righteousness. We have been crucified with Him and He now lives in and through us. We are light. We are the light of the world. It is time then that we lived like what we are and stopped trying to hide the light!! Let it shine. Show them what Christ has made of you and pray that He will do the same for the world around you.
Today, keep in mind what you are. You are light.
Links for Further Study
(links to study each daily topic in more detail if you have the desire and the time)
The Light of the World (AUDIO) by Charles Spurgeon
A Burning Witness to the Light by John Piper
Bible Reading For Further Study
Recommended Songs for Worship
posted by Phillip M. Way | 9:00 PM
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