Walk As Lights

As I continue to explore the believers walk from Ephesians 5 my understanding is heightened to God's profound call to believers to live with intentionality and spiritual awareness. Much can be considered in Ephesians 5:8-14, but in v10-15 Paul provides a framework for understanding how believers should navigate their relationship with the Lord and in turn the world by focusing on three central themes: proving what is acceptable unto the Lord, reproving the unfruitful works of darkness, and awakening from spiritual sleep. These concepts are generated from the believers translation from darkness to light in Christ, offering a distinct and peculiar pathway for spiritual growth and action.

1. Proving What is Acceptable unto the Lord
The first call Paul issues in this passage is for believers to "prove what is acceptable unto the Lord." This directive underscores the necessity of discernment in the Christian walk. But what does it mean to prove what is acceptable?

To "prove" in this context signifies testing or examining something against a standard—in this case, God's standard. As believers, we are called to evaluate our thoughts, actions, and lives according to God's word. This process requires a purposeful pursuit to understanding and aligning our lives with the divine principles embodied in Scripture.

Proving what is acceptable involves:

• Engagement with Scripture: Regular study and meditating on the Bible help believers understand God's will and cultivate a mindset centered on His truths. It's about immersing oneself in the word to know what God deems pleasing and in alignment with His character.

• Application of Truth: Knowing is not enough—we must apply biblical principles in our daily lives. This means making choices reflective of goodness, righteousness, and truth, as highlighted by Paul. Our lifestyle should be a testament to our faith, illustrating the living principles of our inheritance in God's kingdom.

• Continuous Reflection and Growth: Proving involves an ongoing process. As we grow in faith and knowledge, our understanding of what is acceptable develops. Continuous reflection allows us to refine our actions and attitudes to better align with God's will.

By sincerely seeking to understand and practice what is acceptable to God, believers grow deeper in their relationship with Him and become effective witnesses to the world.

2. Reproving the Unfruitful Works of Darkness
The second point this passage addresses is a call to "reprove" the unfruitful works of darkness. While proving involves discernment, reproving entails discernment and taking an active stance against behaviors and practices contrary to God's light.

Reproving unfruitful works means:

• Identifying Darkness: Believers must first recognize the manifestations of darkness, which Paul describes as actions devoid of value and contrary to God's nature. These include behaviors that breed corruption, deceit, and distance from divine truth.

• Non-participation and Separation: Paul urges believers to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." This statement underscores the knowledge light provides of darkness' ability to blind. And it advocates for avoiding complicity in actions that contradict the new man paths detailed in Ephesians 4-5. Separation from darkness is a testimony to our perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

• Courageous Correction: Reproving involves lovingly confronting behaviors that are wrong, both with ourselves, in personal relationships and in broader societal contexts. It requires courage and wisdom to address wrongdoing in meekness and with a desire for repentance and salvation.

• Reflecting Christ’s Love: Though reproving could be perceived negatively, the intent should always be redemptive. The goal is to shine the light of Christ in such a way that it draws people out of darkness, pointing them towards a hopeful and transformative relationship with God.

In reproving darkness, believers act as beacons of godliness, calling attention to the unfruitfulness of sin and urging others to go to the enlightening truth of the gospel.

3. Paul's Call to Awake Out of Sleep
The final exhortation from Paul in this passage is a wake-up call: “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” In this metaphorical call to action, he addresses the dangers of spiritual slumber—a state of complacency and unawareness in believers' lives.

Awakening out of sleep involves:

• Awareness and Vigilance: Spiritual sleep indicates a lack of awareness or concern for spiritual matters. Paul calls believers to awaken to the reality of their faith, embracing an active and vigilant stance against the pressures and lures of the world.

• Remembering: Awakening means reigniting one's love for God and His things, remembering we love because He first loved us. This renewal brings about spiritual vitality and enthusiasm for God's work and purposes - for He has redeemed and purified unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

• Living Intentionally: To awaken is to live with purpose, done when you know the eternal purpose of God in Christ. To make deliberate choices that reflect our identity in Christ. It is a meditative and prayerful commitment to living each day in the fullness of God’s light, motivated by the hope of eternal life, the light of the kingdom of God's dear Son, and the glory of God.

• Embracing Transformation: The awakened Christian life is marked by transformation—the kind of change that impacts not only personal habits but also shines into relationships and communities. This transformation is ongoing, as believers are continually called to exercise themselves unto godliness and grow thereby.

Paul's call to spiritual wakefulness is a reminder that the Christian life is not passive. It is an active, lively engagement with God's purpose, marked by alertness to His will and readiness to walk worthy.

Conclusion
Ephesians 5:8-14 lays out a path for believers seeking to live out their faith sincerely in a world at odds with God's light of truth. By proving what is acceptable, reproving the works of darkness, and awakening from spiritual sleep, we align our lives with the transformative power of Jesus Christ. This "growing up" is one of intentionality, courage, and from the heart, embodying the light and life we have received through Christ. As we walk in this light, may we continually strive to reflect God's glory in all that we do, drawing others to the hope and redemption found in Him.