“7Therefore do not become partners with them; 8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” – Ephesians 5:7-10 (ESV)
This seems like a simple thing to accomplish, be good, right, and true. The reality is that it is not something that comes naturally and is easily distorted as we go through the world each day.
When I look at the full passage of Ephesians 5:1-21, I see that Paul is encouraging us to place ourselves in the company of non-believers as Jesus did in His time. I am not to shy away from them, but to infuse with them. I am to bring the word of the Lord to them each day.
Where I have to be careful is in not becoming like them or condoning their actions or lifestyles. I have to be willing to go into their world to bring the word of God to them and not expect them to come to me to start out. I have to bring Christ and not celebrate their lives and actions. I have to love them and separate them from their actions. I have to bring the “fruit of light” to those areas that are filled with darkness.
Now as I was studying this morning I found that “fruit of light” is similar to the “fruit of the Spirit” and when looked at from that perspective there is a whole open approach to how I should be around those that are followers of Christ.
“22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
When opened to the definition of the “fruit of the Spirit” the “fruit of light” is so much more actionable. It is the actions that impact those around us, not just speaking about them. I have to remember to be and act in the “fruit of the Spirit” when I am engaged with others. Those that are followers of Christ will join in and those that are not, will see and be touched by them. We should be working with the ideas for others to “do as I do”. I have to remember to be good, right, and true in all that I do.
When you are with others, what do your actions reveal? Are you joining them in their actions? What if you were to be good, right, and true with your actions as an example of the “fruit of the Spirit”?
Trevor's Thoughts 