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When Christ Shines On You

Study of Ephesians

Week 18

 

Ephesians 5:13-21

 

“But all things become visible when they’re exposed by the light for everything that becomes visible is light...awake…arise…and Christ will shine on you.”

 

Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Christ shining on us when we are exposed by His light.

 

Let’s look at what “light” means here.

“Light” in the New Testament means “the manifestation of God’s self-existent life; divine illumination to reveal and impart life, through Christ.”(1)

 

The Amplified Bible reads like this:

“But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light (of God’s precepts), for it is light that makes everything visible.” Ephesians 5:13

 

The light is God’s standard, His Truth, His Word.

Too many people have, what I believe, erred on worshiping the light.

Nowhere in scripture does God call us to worship the light.

We are called to worship Him and Him alone.

The light is an active component of God Himself, the Revealer. Deuteronomy 29:29, Mark 4:22

 

As a result of Christ shining on us, we can then, and only then, shine on others.

 

Paul then shares seven things we should actively practice as Christians.

 

Walk at wise” men. (Ephesians 5:15)

“Wise” in this context means one’s actions are governed by integrity.

Basically, Paul is telling the Gentiles that they needed to walk in integrity as Christ followers.

 

Second, Paul challenged them to “make the most of their time. (Ephesians 5:16)

His reasoning is this, “the days are evil.”  Paul addressed this in his letter to the Galatians as well. Galatians 1:4

 

Third, Paul writes to “understand what the will of the Lord is.”  (Ephesians 5:17)

The key word here is “understand.” It means to discern and do the preferred will of the Lord.  That, I have found, takes an ongoing connection with the Lord. It takes time in prayer and in His Word. It takes connecting with others who are of the same heart and hearing their counsel.  But when we “understand what the will of the Lord is,” and we choose to obey, we can walk in faith and confidence only found in Him.

 

Next, Paul makes a profound theological statement. “Be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) This is an act of continual filling, and here he contrasts this point with those who would get drunk on too much wine. To be filled with the Spirit means that we are complete and made full in Him. In a letter to Titus, Paul stresses the practical working out of our salvation and one of the hallmarks of this is one who lives above reproach.

Titus 1:6

 

Fifth, to speak with one another in “Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” This practice edified the believers as well as the church. While this may seem foreign to us today, Paul continued to frame what the life of a believer looked like. This spiritual practice built up the hearer as well as the edifier. While our worship today is both private and corporate, this verse alone serves as a challenge to each of us to exercise a life of worship. (Ephesians 5:19)

 

Next, Paul frames our lives with this phrase, “giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” (Ephesians 5:20)   Seems like a tall order, doesn’t it? “Give thanks for all things…?” Let’s remember some of the trials that Paul endured: beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks and being stoned. Yet he knew a secret, a spiritual secret if you will. Difficult times, trying times, hard times should drive us to the feet of Jesus. He and He alone can save us.  Not just for eternity, but in our everyday life. Giving thanks for all things is a spiritual practice that connects us with the all powerful, all loving God, the One who works on our behalf. David put it like this, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13  

 

Finally, Paul ties it all up with this, “be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)  At a time when being subject to someone else meant to be their servant, Paul reminds us of Jesus Himself. “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

Paul encapsulates a walk with Christ with this point. Christ followers were not meant to live alone, like an island. We were created for fellowship with Christ and with others, respecting others as we do ourselves.  We are to serve others in a spirit of love, and to subject ourselves to others in Christ. It is this type of fellowship that uniquely qualifies the body of Christ.

 

When Christ shines on us, we can in turn, shine His love on others.

That, I believe, is the call of Christ.

 

Footnotes:

(1) “Ephesians 5:13 Lexicon”. Biblehub.com. https://biblehub.com/lexicon/ephesians/5-13.htm. Accessed April 2022.