12-02-23-ENG.

"Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. "

Romans 13:12 
WALK REFLECTIVELY

Read It: Ephesians 5:8-13
Light shows things as they really are. That's why as the children of light, we need to make sure that our walk matches our talk, that our practice tice matches our doctrine. To walk in the light is to reflect the character of God in such a way that people actually see what God looks like when they look at us. We've been seeing this week that what we believe should very definitely impact the way we live. Paul states that in an unusual way in verse 9, mixing the metaphors of light and fruit to talk about the "fruit of the light." But there's no mistaking taking his meaning. As members of Christ's body reflecting His light, we are to practice "goodness, righteousness, and truth." Reflecting God's character means reflecting His will. So our assignment is to find out what pleases God (v. 10). A few verses later Paul will tell us to understand what God's will for us is, which as we saw in our study on the Holy Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit. Now if we're reflecting godly character in the way we live, it's going to have an effect on the darkness. Light exposes what's being done in the dark, and one of the church's tasks is to expose the "unfruitful deeds of darkness" (v. 11).

This is heavy. A lot of individual Christians and churches don't want to touch this one because it involves risks. Now I don't think Paul means we are to go around calling sinners names and all that, but neither is he talking about hiding our lights under a bushel. The most effective way to expose wrong behavior for what it is is by displaying right behavior. The very presence of Christians in a community nity and a neighborhood should have this effect of bringing evil to light, because people see God's alternative. Of course, there are those times when we have to get out of neutral and take a stand for what's right no matter what the cost. But day in and day out, your witness is the most effective way you have of letting your light shine and exposing the darkness. Think About It Are you making contact with any lost people around you who need to see your light shine? Don't keep it hidden inside the church.