Ascension Lutheran Church

Calgary, AB

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Ephesians 5:8-14

[8] For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light-- [9] for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. [10] Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. [11] Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. [12] For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; [13] but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, [14] for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

If we are being watchful, paying attention to what’s going on inside us and around us in Lent, we should be seeing some evidence of God at work in us and our lives. Of course, Lent can be a time when we see our weaknesses in a startling way, but it should also be a time when we see positive and encouraging evidence of what it means for us to be children of God.

The text from Ephesians describes us as children of light and calls us to live as such—enjoying all that is good and right and true, seeking after that which is pleasing to the Lord.

The light St. Paul speaks of here isn’t anything we create for ourselves, but is God at work in and through us. Not making us into new or different people, but into more of whom He created and intended us to be.

Living as light in a darkened world will be noticeable, not only to us but to others. Of course, there will be those who are so committed to darkness that they’ll be offended at what is light good and true, and will react in that way.

But there will also be those feeling stuck in the darkness, for whom light is a sign of hope and they’ll be drawn to it—to Christ.

Thus as we live as children of light, focusing our attention on what is good and right and true, in short keeping our attention on Christ, we will enjoy the His peace and presence, but will also serve as a beacon for others who are searching for Him who is the Light.