Advent Devotion – A Light Shines in the Darkness – Day 21

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Ephesians 5:8-10

Seeing the Light of Salvation

In Ephesians, Paul writes to encourage unity and strengthen faith. Today’s reading tells us that we are light in the Lord, whose fruit consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. We do what pleases God and take joy in him. Light is transformative. We all were once in darkness, but God has made us new.

And daily, we are transformed. We sin again and again, and each time we are forgiven. God calls us to live in light, and that means that we do not hide our wrongdoings or refuse to acknowledge them. Instead, we bring them to him in repentance and allow him to cover us in his robe of righteousness and bring us to himself. We confess to each other the ways we have hurt our neighbor, and we hold our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable. We do not let misdeeds continue in darkness. But when these misdeeds are brought to light, we offer forgiveness and mercy.

We have seen how, as light, we are God’s witnesses. Now we see that as light, we live in love and honesty with one another, for light is what pleases the Lord. Living in the light means being part of a community that holds itself accountable, that does not permit evil to be done in secret. This community calls each other out, and as Paul writes, has “nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather exposes them” (verse 11).

This accountability does not, however, mean turning its back on those who fail. What is repentance without forgiveness? Merely despair. We uplift one another and remind each other of who we are: forgiven in Christ, righteous before God. Then Paul says, “Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verses 18b-20).

Advent is a season of repentance and anticipation. We shine a light on our own misdeeds and earnestly ask for forgiveness. But at the same time, we see the light of salvation on the horizon: a star in the east, marking the Savior. We eagerly anticipate his coming, and until he comes again on the Last Day, we live as children of the light, for that is who we are in him.

Prayer: Lord, you have made us children of light. Thank you for your work in our hearts and in our lives, transforming us and making us new. Grant that we live in your love all our days. Amen.

Written by Alyssa Ebeling