TOPIC: Walking in the Light ( Part 12)

Key verse: Ephesians 5: 8: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light,” ( NKJV).

ACHILD of God should be noticeably different from people who dwell in darkness. He is not a partaker with those who are disobedient. The world system has their way of doing things, but God’s children must live differently and showcase the light of God in them. Our lives as believers should be contagious because we are children of light. We are to bear good fruit as believers. There will be certain characteristics that will be evident in our lives. Paul calls these characteristics "the fruit of the Spirit,” ( Galatians 5: 2223).

As Christ' s light shines through us, there should be a prism effect. We should reflect "goodness," "righteousness," "truth" and obedience. Y ou may go to church, carr y a Bible, give money in church, and be baptised, but the real test of being a true Christian is the "fruit."

We cannot ha ve fellowship with God, Who is light, and yet walk in darkness. Darkness is the description for hiding things that we know is wrong. The cover that we provide for our secret sins or our hidden motives is darkness. Any attempt to suppress the truth is a work of darkness. Anyone attempting to circumvent the truth will try to lower the light to a shade of gray, producing lies and deceit. There is a difference between saying and walking. We may say we are in right relationship with God.

We may say we have repented. We may say we have forgiven another, but when our lives continue to show our old sinful habits or unforgiveness, we are then living lies.

What you profess must agree with your action as a child of God. To walk in the light is to walk in purity. The motives for our actions should serve the good of another, and must not be deceitful and self- serving. To walk in the light is to walk in truth. Walking in the truth is a great picture of the Christian life. The Christian life is a walk in the truth with God. When we spend time with God in prayer, studying His word, or in obedience we build our relationship with Him. Walking in truth is to be in a right relationship with

God. The truth is the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 14: 6: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.”

To walk in truth is to walk in the ways of God and you no longer walk in your own ways. To walk in the light is to walk in openness, sincerity and honesty. Our lives as believers should be open epistles for others to emulate.

To walk in the light is to dedicate our lives to loving God and His ways. At this point, you no longer own yourself, but the Lord owns you and controls everything about your life. It is total yielding to the Lord and His commands. You chose to do what pleases Him and not your flesh. You bring

your flesh, desires, emotion, will and intellect under His control and He becomes your Lord and Master. You no longer listen to the devil or obey his commands.

Light is the antithesis of darkness, and it possesses all the components of life, blessing and success. It imparts clarity, joy, a fresh day, and a life that pours forth abundantly and pleases his master. To walk in the light is to walk in holiness, sanctification, power and dominion.

Today’s nugget: Walking in the truth is a great picture of the Christian life.

Prayer: Lord help me to walk in truth.

• Prayer lines: 08033299824. Em a i l : amadiabelukachi@ gmail. com Rev. ( Dr.) Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God, Nigeria