THE K I NG ' S BUS I NESS ance of God’s will as revealed in His Word) and truth,” for in these things is “ the fruit of the light” (R. V .). That is to say, these are the fruit that the light produces (cf. Gal. 5:22, 23). MONDAY, August 10. Eph. 5:10-12. . By walking “ as children of light” they would prove (or put to the test of exper ience) “ what is well pleasing unto the Lord.” The Lord’s pleasure would be the law of their life. While proving that which is well pleasing unto God they were to “ have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,” i. e., they were to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of those who were still darkness, as they had once been. The “ works of darkness” are called “ unfruit ful” because they bring no fruit: results and awful ones they do produce (cf. Rom. 6:21), but those results are not fruit. There are. “works of darkness” and “ of the flesh” (cf. Gal. 5:19-21): there is “ the fruit of the light (v. 9), and “ the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22). How utterly impossible it was for them to have any fellowship whatever with the unfruitful works of darkness Paul further emphasizes by saying that “ it is a shame even to speak of” “ the things which are done by them in secret.” That was true in the heathen world. Alas! it is also true today. If all the things done by “ darkness,” done by the unre generate in secret, were made known, what a frightful sight it would be. It is a shame even to speak of these things, but we should “ reprove them.” TUESDAY, August 11. Eph. 5:13, 14 The secret things done by the “ dark ness” are made manifest, or revealed, in their true character when they are reproved. It is “ the light” that makes them manifest, the light (truth and holi ness) as it shines in the word, and still more as it shines in the character of the “ children of light.” A true man and holy man makes manifest the sinful things in the untrue and unholy man, and everything that is thus manifest in its sinful character becomes transformed into light itself (v. 13, R. V.). It is good to have our sins brought to light and exposed, for in this way sin is purged and darkness is transformed into light. One man who is “ light” reveals many men who are “ darkness,” and thus those who are “ darkness” also become “ light.” When the light shines in, dark ness flees away and all becomes light. Let us then shine in the undimmed
720 hand men are being deceived by “ empty words,” ther empty words of the Uni- versalists, the empty words of the “ higher critic,” the empty words of the atheistic evolutionist, the empty words of the theosophist and the “ Christian Scientist.” But in spite of all these “ empty words” there is still such a thing as “ the wrath of God,” and in spite of these “ empty words” that hold out a hope that a' man may do these things and escape the wrath of God, God’s Word stands sure that “because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.” This phrase, “ the wrath of God,” ought to be pondered. It has an awful significance (cf. John 3:36; Korn. 18:2-5; 8:5-9; 9:22; Col. 3:6; 1 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 6:16; 19:15). This “ wrath of God” is soon to strike. “ Because of these things (such things as those mentioned in verses 3-5, cf. Col. 3:5, 6, R. Y.) cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of dis obedience” (cf. ch. 2 :2). SUNDAY, August 9. Eph. 5:7-9. In view of this coming wrath that is to fall upon the sons of disobedience, Paul urges them not to be a partaker with them. If they were partakers with them in their practices they might be sure they would also be in their doom. Paul gives a good reason why they should not partake with them, viz., that while they “ were once (in former times, during the whole period of their unre generate life) darkness,” they were “ now light in the Lord”, (cf. Col. 1:13), so they could no longer be partakers with them who were still in darkness. Paul puts the case very strongly and expressively.' He does not say, “ Ye were in darkness,” but “ Ye were darkness,” i. e., the darkness'of error and sin had found lodgment in them. In contrast with what they were in former times now they were hot merely in the light, they were light, i. e„ the light (truth and holiness) were incarnate in them (cf. Matt. 5:14). It was “ in the Lord (Jesus)” that they were “ light,” i. e., they were light because of their living union with Him. Since they were no longer “ darkness” but were now “ light” they should walk worthy of what they were, they should “ walk as children of light.” “ Children of light” is an express ive phrase (cf. v. 6 and ch. 2:2, “ sons of disobedience” ). In verse 9 Paul describes what it means to “ walk as children of light,” it is to walk “ in all goodness (i. e., benevolence toward others) and righteousness (i. e., observ-
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