For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
Continuing from yesterday, when we talked about the darkness we came out of, now we are to live differently than we used to. We can see now, we're not just in the Light, but now we are the Light.
(For the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and Truth),
Fruit is the result, what comes of living.
Goodness is wholesomeness, excellence of quality.
Righteousness is right-ness, the quality or state of being just or rightful.
And Truth is the actual state of a matter, reality, verity, actual existence.
God is Truth, He is the reality of what is. He is the self-existent One, the ultimate eternal state of being.
Trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
This is a complete change of attitude, demeanor, thinking processes, from how we lived before we were saved from sin. It's a process of learning.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
We are not to just go along with our friends, as though we are not changed. We are to run from them, and uncover the reality of how these things are harmful and evil.
For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
It is disgraceful, disgusting, to even talk about the kinds of things they do behind closed doors. Talking about them puts our focus on the negative, instead of the positive.
But all things become visible when they are exposed by the Light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
Whatever the light shines on becomes visible, we can see it. It's not hidden any more, it's out in the open.
For this reason it says: Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. (Quoting Isaiah 60:1)Paul studied the Scriptures in the Greek, so this is the Septuagint wording he is applying, as having been fulfilled in us today. Isaiah's talking about the "gross darkness" that will cover the Earth and be on the people, and the Light of the Lord will shine on them to dispel the darkness (Isaiah 60:1-3).
Now that Christ has come, He has shone His Light on us, and dispelled the darkness that was in us, so that we are now His Light to shine on others in the World.
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise,
Because we are now Light, we must take care to not slip back into any of the old ways, which would be foolish; but learn to live our daily lives according to His ways, which is the wise thing to do, and benefits all of us.
Making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Time is the one commodity we cannot multiply; we have only 24 hours in each day, and a limited number of days to live. So we must do what we can when we can, and try not to waste any of the precious hours He has given us.
There is always evil around us every day, as we live in the World. But we must take care not to be influenced by it any more. Learn who God is, to model His character; learn who Jesus is, think like He does. Then you will understand what His will is for you to do, to respond to whatever situation you might find yourself in.
Here's another tip:
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
Do not let spirits control you, but allow God's Holy Spirit to control you.
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Here's how it looks: we're sharing with one another as though we're living out the lyrics of an old Gospel song, or a praise chorus, or a hymn; and we're listening to the song in our heart, using it to give praise to the Lord.
Always giving thanks for all things in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father,
The result of all this music is that we will be living lives of gratitude, appreciating everything God gives us every day, living in His constant Presence. I read years ago how Brother Andrew would "practice the presence of God" every day and have tried to keep that idea in mind.
And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
And we will see one another as worth our respect, and consider helping them with their needs before our own; pausing to think how they will see it instead of automatically reacting. Because Christ did not consider His own Life but gave it up for us.
O my Father, Your kindness to us in laying out the particulars of how to love You and how to love ourselves and how to love others, is so generous and compassionate of you. You don't want us to mistake any of our enemy's counterfeits.
You are good, You are Life, You are Light, You are our Source and our Completion. You are all we ever need in this life and in the next. You only are our Almighty God, with all power and might and wisdom and understanding and skill and ability and and and ... ... ...
Thank You so much, my Father! Thank You for language and music and melody. Thank you for Your written Word, for science, and for knowledge and understanding. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to live inside our spirits, giving us Light and Life in ourselves!
He is the Spirit of Truth, and the Spirit of Love, and the Spirit of Life! He is Your Spirit, Father, and the Spirit of Jesus. He is Your Person in us to teach us all we need to learn to know and practice, to prepare us to be Your good kings and queens to minister to You in administering Your Kingdom, throughout all future Eternity, forever and ever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
