For you
were once darkness, but now
you are
light in the Lord. Live as children
of light. Ephesians
5:8 (NIV)
Light reflects. When you strike a match in
a dark room, you have enough light to walk through the darkness. A lit candle in
that same dark room can provide adequate light by which to work and read. The
purpose of light is to dispel darkness.
It is noteworthy that Ephesians 5:8 does
not say that you were once of darkness but are now of light. It
says you were once darkness
but now you are light. In Matthew five, Jesus told those listening to
His Sermon on the Mount, “You are the light of the world.”
Thinking about the difference between
being in the light and being light reminded me that when you are in the light
you are in the reflection of something or someone else. When you are the light,
you are the one shining forth and others are standing in your reflection as you
provide the light needed in order to see. In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the
light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will
have the light of life.”
Therefore, as a believer in and a follower
of Christ we serve a dual purpose. We walk in the light of Christ, and we are His
light in this world. We shine in order to light the path that will lead others
to Christ.
After thinking about this, I was compelled
to ask myself, “Am I simply soaking in the reflection of the light of Christ
today or am I His light shining in the darkness?” What about you? Is your light
shining?
As children of God in Christ, it is up to
you and me to go and light the world.
©JP 2013
Repost
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