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.”
Ephesians
5:8 (NIV)
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:
Married to Dan,
Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns
Salon and Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s on the
Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team.
