*⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.  

In Isaiah God says ‘the people walking in darkness have seen a great light’. In this verse Paul is making us think a bit more about our what has happened every part of ourselves because of Calvary.  Before we knew Jesus, it wasn’t just about walking in darkness, it was us being darkness.

We can’t change who we are. We try diets, self-help books, exercise plans, therapy – and some of these help us change our behaviour and our outlook.  This verse reminds us that ONLY Jesus can transform us into a completely NEW way of being. Sometimes when something changes for the better (we get a new clutch on the car, or a problem is lifted from our shoulders) we might answer a question about how we are with the phrase ‘it’s like night and day’ – transformation. That’s the triumph of Calvary and Easter Morning – we became LIGHT!

*“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”                 2 Corinthians 3.18 (CSB) So keep looking in that mirror!

Two challenges then: Jesus’ death had totally crushed and obliterated darkness so now you can start declaring and announcing that over any dark places in your life/family/work.  You carry Jesus, the conqueror of sin and death and His light and love. Think last verse of ‘Hark the Herald Angels’ ‘light and life to all He brings’…to EVERY place you go and person you encounter.

***

Application:

What practical ways can you let Him shine out of you even more?

Sit in the sunshine, now if you can or if it’s dark, light a candle and sit with it. Read out loud both verses * as many times as you like, allow that truth to settle into your being.

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, for your work of transformation in my life, thank you that You change us from glory into glory. Enable us to see, act and understand this amazing truth.  Amen