Ephesians 5:7-13 NKJV
Being in a relationship with God demands believers to imitate Him and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave His life for our sins. Our conduct and manner of speech should always reflect who we are and whose we are. “Therefore, do not be partakers with children of them” (v.7) who are the children of disobedience and rebellion against God. Believers are not to “team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness” (2 Cor. 6:14 NLT)?
In v.8 Paul declared two things metaphorically about the identity of children of God. You “were once darkness,” but now “you are light.” Who they once were and who they have become is the result of being “in the Lord.” When you were darkness, you were and conformed to the world. Now that you are light, you are transformed by the renewing of your mind and commanded to “walk as children of light.” Since you are no longer alienated from God, your life should reflect all goodness, righteousness, and truth, which is the effect of the fruit of the Light(v.9). Now by experience you should be “finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (v.10).
The apostle continued his instruction, commanding believers to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove, or expose, them by their godly character (v.11). Yet, Paul declared that it is shameful for those of the Light to focus their conversation on things that ungodly people do in secret (v.12). “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible” (v.13 ESV).
Lift your voice and shout “Glory!”