Wednesday, May 29, 2019


Children of Light
By Karen D’Amore

“For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of Light.”

The conflict erupted over a light! As my husband was trenching to run electricity to the outermost corner of our wooded four acres, a neighbor interrupted his trenching. When asked what he was doing, my husband informed her that he was installing a lamp post to illuminate one of our walking trails. With a hyper-sensitivity for her privacy, the neighbor expressed resistance over our plan to install the light. Even after showing her that the light would not be visible from where her house is situated on her own wooded property, she still continued to dispute the light.

My husband and I wrestled  through much discussion from two opposing perspectives. From a perspective of “entitlement,” we certainly believed we had every right to put a light on our own property. We were also well aware that opting for “entitlement” would be a decision carrying potential to create major friction with our neighbor. As believers, who are called to live as children of “THE Light” and we needed to consider the perspective as ambassadors for Christ.

Ephesians 5:9 says, “for the fruit of THE Light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth” (NIV, emphasis added). As children of Light, following God produces the fruit of righteousness. This righteousness encompasses all that is consistent with the holy character of God. While children of darkness live to please themselves, children of Light should live to please God. After being saved by faith in Christ, we’re not merely improved; we are radically transformed from darkness to serving the Light. This change in our condition should be reflected by change in our conduct.

That change in conduct oftentimes means we’re called by God to waive our rights to exercise the fruit of righteousness. It means we make decisions to forego what brings us delight so that we can maintain peace with others. As children of Light, sacrificing a desire like a lighted walk in the woods is a small price to pay in order to walk in obedience. Choosing to embrace opportunities to glorify God, we extend the love of Jesus to those around us…asking Him to use those decisions to relinquish our rights to impact hearts for the Kingdom of God.


GOING DEEPER:
  1. Are you struggling with the “entitlement” trap, resisting righteousness versus your “rights”?
  2.  How can you relinquish those “rights” and choose to better reflect the fruit of a child of the Light?

FURTHER READING: