By The Light

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.  But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

Ephesians 5:11-13

Light dispels darkness.  It also exposes what has been hiding in the dark.  We have quoted a longer passage than usual which paves the way for our text.  This passage speaks of our having ‘no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,’ and enjoins us to ‘expose them.’  It goes on to say, ‘that all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light.’  In the natural world, how does light expose what has been hiding in the dark?  It does so simply by being light.  There is no campaign; no belligerent, pugnacious, aggressiveness to light.  Light is simply what it is and does what it does.  The results of that is, ‘all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light.’  Where this becomes practical for us who desire to ‘walk as children of light,’ is that in the imitation of Christ we need not be belligerent, pugnacious, and aggressive to ‘expose’ the ‘unfruitful works of darkness.’  Our very existence as imitators of Christ, who ‘walk as children of light’ will ‘expose’ the ‘unfruitful works of darkness.’  As we draw near to Christ, He will conform us to His image.  He is light and in Him there is no darkness.  As we become like Him, we will bring light wherever we go.

God of Grace and Glory,
we rejoice that You have given Christ unto us,
who is the Light of the World.
We praise You, that as we grow to be like Him,
so we also will spread His Light abroad.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning