Be Light

Ephesians 5:8-14

In today’s reading (v. 8), Paul tells the Ephesians, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” He doesn’t say you were once in the dark, but now you are in the light.  He specifically tells them they WERE darkness and now they ARE light.

Many times, Jesus is referred to as light and even calls himself light.

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”  John 12:46

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

These references and others like it, lead me to conclude that Paul is encouraging believers to set an example and be like Christ – to be light.  Like it says in Matthew 5:16, “… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The other day, I attended the mid-week Lenten service and drew a correlation between today’s scripture and the Benediction which talked about being chosen by God.  We, like the Ephesians, are chosen by God to be light in a dark world:

You are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, Chosen to be holy people, God’s instruments to do His work and speak for Him, to tell others what God has done for you.  So, go into the world; live as God’s people, Through the grace of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Go… and be light.

Chosen

1 Peter 2:4-12

What defines you? What is your identity? Is it your career or what you do such as being a parent a student or an athlete? Is it where you live? Is it some great accomplishment; or something shameful that you did? Is it a physical trait like the shape of your body or how attractive you are?

Whatever it is, one thing is for sure; your identity sets the course of your life. It gives direction to your attitudes, your beliefs, and your decisions.

In Peter’s letter, he wrote to believers that were living in a precarious time. Followers of Christ were being persecuted daily, sometimes at the cost of their lives. Peter speaks to the core of their condition… their identity. Their identity will define them because it will determine how they respond and live their lives of faith.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. NIV

9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. MSG

These two translations of the same verses give you insights into who you are as a believer; into what, or who defines you.

You have been chosen by God to tell others about the difference that God has made in your life.

You have been chosen not because you are holy, but to be holy through God’s mercy.

You have been chosen to be a part of the people of God; not a lone ranger. You have been chosen because God has a plan and a purpose for your life. You are a child of God, chosen by Him to serve and to love Him. That is your identity. That is what defines you.

Red Rover, Red Rover, send...

1 Peter 2:9-10 (MSG) But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you-- from nothing to something, from rejected to  accepted.

I hated gym class. How about those awful gym-suits we wore back in the 50's? The biggest reason for my dislike, and one that stands out most is the recruitment process--waiting to be chosen for a team. My lack of athletic prowess was an understatement. While it may sound like a pity party, I was no one's first choice, nor second, nor third. Get the picture?

We can't all be first on someone's list of preferred teammates. To be honest, I would have been content to sit on the sidelines and watch the game from the bleachers. Looking back, it was silly to place my self-worth on a level with being picked first.

This school age experience makes the words in 1 Peter 2 valuable. "You are the ones chosen by God". Chosen by God? This a team I can play on. A team that needs me. I can tell others about the changes in me since meeting Jesus. 

Which team is recruiting you? Which team drafted you; picked you to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you?

1 Peter 2:9-12