How Then Should You Live? - Ephesians 5:8-20

Paul continues today describing the changes in what a believer looks like after they have become children of God by grace through faith in Christ.  He reminds them of their identity as children of God adopted by Him through Jesus' redemptive love and mercy.   

"8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."  When I first read this I thought there was a preposition missing in the first phrase. I thought the verse should read, "you were once IN darkness", not "you were once darkness".  But it turns out that this is one of the key things Paul is emphasizing that we are children "of" the light, not just in the light.  It is a part of our very essence. 

9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) Living in the light means the first of all being good, fair and truthful.  These are also fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23

10 and find out what pleases the Lord. Though we generally know what is right and wrong, Paul tells them to "find out" what pleases the Lord.  When is the last time you asked God what pleased him?  

11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  When Paul says have "nothing to do", he warns us to not dabble in the "dark side".  Sometimes we think we need to do so to see how "other half" lives. Someone has said to "be in the world, but not of the world." It is certainly a fine line, and we don't always get it right, but being aware of it might be half of the battle. When we live in the light, we expose the darkness by our very presence.

12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. "He means when it comes to dealing with the gross immoralities that characterize the world, believers need less talk and more walk." (Verse by Verse International)

13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. When the light comes everything becomes visible.  Though we may do some things in secret ultimately they will get exposed.  It reminds me of the verse from Hebrews 4:13, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Since I didn't know where this came from (I thought it was a quote from the OT, I looked it up and here is what I found, "The above words are often understood as an early hymn or poem known to both Paul and the Ephesian believers. These words may have been known to others, particularly if this letter to the Ephesians was intended for multiple churches. The Greek words translated "sleep" and "dead" share the same rhyming ending. The third phrase ends with the word Christos or Christ to end the hymn. The usage is intended to communicate the concept that when we turn from our sins to the Lord, Christ brings us to life and "shines" on us, again connecting with the theme of light." (bible ref.com)

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, Paul teaches us to be intentional about how we live, not just going with the flow. i.e. "laissez faire" attitude. Why? Because we have a limited amount of opportunity here on the earth.  

16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Paul is saying that God gives us opportunities every day to live as children of the light.  Use those opportunities to show God's love to the world. God often acts in the little decisions of life like to pray with someone, or listen to someone in need.

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. This assumes that God has a specific will for our lives.  Foolishness means to just disregard God's will or to assume your will is God's will.  Seeking out God's will takes time. I.e. praying, reading God's word, being in fellowship with other believers.

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, This is one of my favorite verses describing the Holy Spirit.  Though we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit when we come to faith in Jesus, we can continue to seek to be renewed and consistently filled with the Holy Spirit.  Since the Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity, the Spirit is not static but dynamic.  It's not like we receive the Holy Spirit and that's the end of it.  Each day as we live in the light, the Holy Spirit shines through us, and gives us the power and self control to avoid destructive habits. 

19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,  One of the most important ways we get filled with the Holy Spirit is when we worship the living God in His power.  Note Paul gives three different types of worship materials: psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. "The emphasis is more on variety than on strict categories. “We can scarcely say what is the exact difference between these three expressions." (Clarke). Some in the charismatic movement think songs from the Spirit is related to singing in tongues, or another spiritual language.  Others think it is more or a contemporary or extemporaneous kind of free flowing worship led by the Spirit. 

20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, Paul says under girding all of our praise and worship is a spirit of thanksgiving and praise for God the Father and Jesus our Lord!