“…At one time you were darkness, but now you are light…walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
“At one time you were…now you are…” We are not who we used to be! In Christ we are actually someone different. Paul doesn’t just say that we are now living in the light, but we are light. He then says that this light has the DNA of goodness, of rightness, and of truth (“for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true”). Because we are a new creation in Christ, we now have this new DNA implanted in us.
Paul then says we are to “walk” or to live consistently with who we are. We do not behave so that we can become someone with the DNA of light, but because we have the DNA of light, we are to live that way…”walk as children of light.” Live like who you are.
Note that our behavior is not the cause of our identity…rather our identity is the source of our behavior. Could it be that my obedience is the evidence of what God has already done in me?
“You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God created identity” (Matthew 5:48, The Message).
I find that what you are saying Bill is all so true, If we are in the place of our walk w/the trinity where we feel we have to manipulate our lives to be protected, we are in Bondage,( a place where we can’t trust our God w/ our lives). If we leave our lives to Gods will (the decision to trust Him) we experience FREEDOM then Peace, Joy, Gods grace, the blessing of the filling of the void in my soul that only God can effect. Then the experience of God giving us a “heart to know Him” Jer. 24:7 because we decide to seek Him daily, is the act of Honoring God, loving Him, because HE gave me that heart to know Him. KNOW I want to know Him even greater,effecting the changed life in Christ, which again glorifies God. A process then developing me a deep desire to experience OBEDIENCE again & again. I praise God for the Freedom to walk w/Him. The walk I cannot make happen.
What a relief that it starts with God giving us a heart that desires Him. We’d be in a lot of trouble otherwise!!! With no solution.