My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
An illustrated collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and some of its least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Ephesians 5:9 … The Fruit of the Light<br />
(05/19/20<strong>17</strong>)<br />
“Live as Children of Light – for the fruit of the Light is found in all that is<br />
good and right and true.” ~ unknown (Ephesians 5:9)<br />
Even though Ephesians was in all probability not written by Paul (but instead<br />
was likely copied and amended from Colossians by a Paulinist follower shortly after<br />
Paul‟s death), this verse still reflects a deep set of Truths, all of them hinging on<br />
its very first word: “Live.” For even though it was indeed good enough for Paul<br />
for his followers <strong>to</strong> think “good” thoughts and have “right” beliefs and speak<br />
“true” words, this was not enough for anyone desiring the follow The Way of<br />
Christ ... For <strong>to</strong> enter Jesus” “Kingdom of God” in this lifetime (Luke <strong>17</strong>:20-21)<br />
requires bold, selfless action (see Matthew 7:21-24, Matthew 13:18-23, Matthew<br />
24:12-14, Luke 10:29-37, John 13:15-<strong>17</strong> et al). It requires becoming “humble as a<br />
<strong>to</strong>ddler” (Matthew 18:3-4), and the only way <strong>to</strong> do that was <strong>to</strong> “Live as Children<br />
of Light” – by Forgiving our trespassers without end (Matthew 18:21-22), by<br />
Loving our enemies without exception (Matthew 5:43-48), and by Serving the<br />
downtrodden without excuses (Matthew 25:35-40). For these are the deeds that<br />
bear the Spiritual Fruit (see Matthew 21:43 & Galatians 5:22-23) that allow our<br />
Light <strong>to</strong> shine, and allow us <strong>to</strong> truly represent the Divine (“While you have the<br />
light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light … The one who<br />
believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works [of<br />
Love] than these” ~ Jesus in John 12:36 & John 14:12).<br />
Amen ... Let it be so.<br />
126