In the direction of His light

Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:8b-10

There is a sense in which Christians must think very carefully about our choices and actions. We must be discerning. We must be a people who give thought to our own thoughts, who choose wisely in our options, who feel rightly in our responses, and who do righteous acts with our behaviors. This is a deliberately God-honoring holiness that flows from our redemption in Christ, our knowledge of God‘s Word, the direction of the Holy Spirit, and our own choice to believe God and do as He says by following the example of Jesus. 

This is not easy. It is however something every Christian is equipped to do. By the Word of God, prayer, the community of fellow saints, and the gospel transformation Jesus brings we all can “walk as children of light.” We can find “all that is good and right and true.” We can “discern what is pleasing to the Lord.“ We aren’t left to our own individual preference. rather, we are given specific direction depending on our role in life and stage of living. That is in fact what Paul does next in Ephesians five. He starts with the community of the church, focusing on corporate worship (Ephesians 5:15-21). He then helps Christian households find specific direction (Ephesians 5:22-6:9). We can easily discern what pleases God by living by what God shows us.

Lord,

I thank You that life is not directionless. You have revealed my salvation and my direction in Jesus. And with Your church, in my home, with my heart, and in my family I can discern what is pleasing to You. I can have all the best experiences walking as Your child in that clear light!

Amen