The first three chapters in Ephesians deals primarily with the legal side of redemption. The second half deals specifically with the practical side of redemption. It is alarming how we find at times, people who are quick to magnify what all Christ did for them but are slow to apply it in their lives, so that it is evidenced in their Christian walk. I guess we have all been guilty at times, knowing a truth but not walking in that truth. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians centers in on how important it is for us, not just to b hearers of the Word only, but doers. In Chapter 5 of Ephesians, Paul tells us, “...but now are you light in the Lord, walk as children of light.” Every child of God has God’s light in them. That light is the result of eternal life being imparted in them. John said of Jesus, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” In John 8:10, Jesus himself said “I am the light of the world, he that follows me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”. The light of life represents several things. First, it represents the presence of God’s love. In I John 2:10, it tells us, “He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him”. If we are to walk in the light of life, we must be willing to walk in love with our fellow believers. Eternal life is the nature of God. It is that quality of life that God himself enjoys. If we know that God’s nature is in us and that nature is love, then to fail to walk in love is to shut ourselves off from following after God’s life. Hence, our light dwindles and becomes dim. Second, light represents understanding. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. The word “see” means to comprehend, to perceive, to know or to understand. Understanding the kingdom of God comes by being born of God, or as one translation puts it, “receiving the new life from God” (TCNT). When a person chooses to walk in the life of God and follow after it, then the light is turned on within him to where he sees and understands. The more he follows that life, the greater the light, the greater the understanding. Third, light represents guidance. Notice again, I John 2:10, “… and there is none occasion of stumbling in him”. When the light is turned on, you can see where you are going. It’s when you are in the dark that you stumble. Paul mentions here in Ephesians 5, the true characteristics of the light. “And the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth”. In other words, when a person chooses to walk on in the light that is in him, he will be choosing to walk by the fruit of the Spirit which falls under three main categories: (1) goodness (2) righteousness (3) truth. All our behavior should be characteristic of one of these three categories, or it is not a true fruit of the Spirit. When we endeavor to follow along these lines, we can be sure that we will experience the love of God in our lives as well as true spiritual understanding and heavenly guidance. To make sure Paul’s readers understood him clearly, he added, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord”. We must be ready to always prove the things we do or the things we allow, by checking to see if they are acceptable to God. Some things we allow may not be necessarily wrong or sinful, but it is not what the Spirit of God desires for our lives. Walking in the light will help us know what God is leading us to do and what He is leading us not to do. For some, Paul admonishes to wake up. Obviously, they were not proving the activities they were allowing and so they couldn’t judge them properly. Make sure you understand, that any time you fail to keep yourself under the search light of the Holy Spirit, you will give in to things that are not healthy to you spiritually. Paul said, when you do judge yourself, it is because you are walking in the light and this is wisdom. In our lesson today on walking as children of light, we conclude by mentioning one other area of significance that Paul wants his readers to see. That is, to walk as children of light, one keeps himself full of the Spirit of God. To be full of the Spirit is to be full of three things: (1) Praise and worship to God in your daily life. Our praise life is spontaneous when the Spirit of God is directing and motivating our life. (2) a thankful heart. Complainers lack the Spirit of God. They that grumble and gripe need a new filling of the living waters. When you are full of the Spirit, you are constantly thankful to the Lord. (3) a submissive spirit. The heart of a true child of light, and one who is full of the Holy Ghost, is that they are not argumentative, stubborn or uncooperative. They are true servants of the Lord. They yield, they flow, they give and as a result of that, they are unafraid of being mistreated or taken advantage of./ They simply live the life of Christ and let their light shine big and bright. u Memory Verse: “for you were sometime darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light”. Ephesians 5:8 2 GLAD TIDINGS AUGUST 2026 Non-denominational Christian Newspaper Sharing the Gospel of Jesus the Christ MAIL P. O. BOX 1116 - DOUGLAS - GA 31534 E- MAIL Editor@GladTidings.news OFFICE PHONE (912) 384- 6896 ADMINISTRATION EDITOR AND PUBLISHER.........Quinnelle McRae VOLUNTEERS CARTOONS/JoyfulToons...................Mike Waters EDITORIAL WRITERS .......... Gary Toole, Peggy Clark, Sara Goldstein, Mark Hankins PROOF READER.. .............................Peggy Clark PHOTOGRAPHY.... ................. Quinnelle McRae ADVERTISING.............................Quinnelle McRae SUBMISSIONS We invite and welcome articles, testimonies, poems, announcements, church news, church histories, recipes or any other inspirational writings. Submissions will not be accepted that exceed 350 words. Publisher assumes no liability for unsolicited art, photographs, manuscripts or other materials. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject all material which goes against Glad Tidings policy. Glad Tidings will not engage in any controversy and does not endorse any religious expression, viewpoint, opinions or doctrines. The printing of Glad Tidings Newspaper is financed solely through advertisements and contributions. You may contact our office for Ad prices. DATES Glad Tidings is published bi-monthly Publication is the 3rd Tuesday of 1st month Advertising & Editorials due 3 weeks before publication .DISTRIBUTION The print edition of Glad Tidings is distributed Free of Charge in Coffee, Atkinson, Jeff Davis, Telfair, Wheeler, Ben Hill, Irwin, Cook, Bacon, Ware, and Tift counties. All churches are welcome to as many copies as they would like to pass out to their congregation. Call the office telephone number for more information. The digital edition is free and available on-line at www.GladTidings.news GLAD TIDINGS - ALL Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited. © Our Mission at Glad Tidings is to reach as many as possible with the good news of JESUS CHRIST u Please thank our advertisers and volunteers for making possible the sharing of Glad Tidings with you! AUGUST 2026 Sow your Seed into the Good Ground of Glad Tidings Glad Tidings CHILDREN OF LIGHT REV. QUINNELLE MCRAE (Notes taken from a Sermon of Pastor David Dunning)
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