https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph+5%3A8-14&version=NIVUK

This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’

Ephesians 5:8-14

Verse 14 is a compilation of paraphrases from Isaiah and Luke. In particular, ‘Christ will shine upon you’ is a paraphrase from Luke 1.The father of John the Baptist, Zechariah, prophesies as he is filled with the Spirit, ‘Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us’ (Luke 1.78, NASB). And Paul, by quoting it here, teaches us that Christ’s shining upon us and therefore raising us from the dead takes place today as we actively and purposefully push away evil and adopt goodness. If we think of him and give thanks instead of mourning, this will be our ‘testing’ of what pleases God (v. 10), honouring the work of Christ for us.

Lord, let me honour Christ’s work and his shining upon us today by pushing away complaints and resentment and adopting thanksgiving and praise.

• What does it mean that ‘Christ shines upon you’? How would you describe it in your own words?

• As a result of Christ’s shining upon you, your attitude, speech, and actions change. What do you think is the most significant change that has taken place recently?

• Do you have new goals in life, with your thoughts and perspective influenced by such change?