Steven A. Bush - January 19, 2014
Children of Light
Enough cannot be said about our salvation being a free gift, obtained by faith and not by works. Our relationship with Jesus Christ begins and ends with His finished work upon the cross. Perhaps more, however, needs to be said about how God's plan to apprehend us includes His plan to also transform us into the likeness of His Son. As someone astutely said, "God loves us the way He found us but He doesn't want to leave us that way." Ephesians 5:8-21 declares that we are children of light called to bear the fruit of the light. Bearing the fruit of the light may be a mixed metaphor but it wonderfully reveals that genuine faith produces Christlike qualities that are in stark contrast to the cold dark world in which we once walked. These same verses likewise tell how we are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit to the point where songs burst forth from our hearts--songs of praise and thanksgiving that glorify our Lord and songs that likewise minister to and build up our brothers and sisters in Christ. What a privilege it is to be named among those called the children of light!