Walk in the Light

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We often hear the phrase “look like Christ,” but what does it mean? Ephesians 4 gives us a long list—all of them counter our own bent. So when these things show up, we know it’s the Spirit working in us.

God’s Spirit is alive in us, working on us, loving us. When we ignore His prompts and live as we please, we grieve Him. He won’t walk with us if we’re letting sin control us. No more dabbling in sexual sins, no more craving other people’s stuff or grasping at what you want.

So when you find yourself caught up in sin, turn back to God! Spell out each sin. Unload your heart. He will forgive you, comfort you, and purify your heart. Tell Him about your temptations so He will shield you. What a blessing to have this kind of honest conversation with God.

Before we were God’s children, we weren’t just in darkness; we were darkness. “But now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (5:8). What characteristics always come with light? Goodness, kindness, righteousness, moral integrity, truth, sincerity, and genuineness. Test yourself on these, Paul said. Don’t mingle darkness with light. In fact, by the light of your life, reveal what darkness conceals.

The days are short, and our opportunities are limited—all the more reason to walk carefully, wisely, in front of the world. But understand your priority is to please the Lord, and your objective is to stay in His will like a train runs on the track. The way you walk shows the world you belong to Jesus Christ.

Do you want to do this? There’s only one way how. You must be filled with God’s Spirit. His power determines your victory day after day. Paul compares what it’s like to be filled with the Spirit with being drunk. What? Like today, alcohol abuse was the besetting sin of the day. Why would Paul say this?

When someone is drunk, their thinking, responses, speech, and coordination—are all being controlled by the alcohol. Like that, the Holy Spirit should control the believer. A divine intoxication! He takes control! He fills us with strength for action.

Filling is the one thing we must ask the Spirit to do. He does everything else in us when we put our trust in Christ. He regenerates us (John 1:12), indwells us (Romans 8:9), seals us (Ephesians 1:13), and baptizes us into the body of believers (1 Corinthians 12:13). The only thing which is left up to us is to obey His command to be filled with the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 5:18). But we need His power to serve Christ.

To be filled with the Spirit is as simple as filling your gas tank. You start in the morning saying, “Lord, I want to walk today in the Spirit. I can’t do it myself. I need Your power and help.” A fresh infilling helps us walk in the Spirit.

One proof we are being filled with the Holy Spirit? It’s joy—joy that overflows into “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (5:19). Formal, informal, personal, corporate expression of the worthiness of Jesus Christ—all to glorify God.

If you feel like the old gas tank is empty, ask God to fill it up with His Spirit. We don’t have anything worthwhile in ourselves, but when He fills us, we can live for Him. Do you get it? It’s impossible to live for Jesus on our own, but He can and wants to live through us.

1. What are some ways we can test ourselves to see that we are walking in light rather than darkness?

2. The Holy Spirit performs much of His work when we are saved, but being filled by the Spirit is something that is our responsibility. What are some ways we cooperate with Him to fill us, and what are some ways we can prevent that filling?

3. Think about someone you know who you think of as being an example of a Spirit-filled person. What do you see in them that leads you to that conclusion, and how can you follow their example?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee's complete audio teachings of Ephesians 4:30—5:13 and Ephesians 5:14-20.