Let us live decently, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and lust, not in quarreling and envy.
Truth to Learn
Our words and deeds should show forth the light of Christ.
Behind the Words
The word “live” is from peripateō, which literally means “to walk around.” Figuratively, it refers to how a person lives his or her life (walking the road of life).
“Decently” is translated from a form of euschēmōn which is made up of eu, meaning “good or well” and schema, referring to “the external form or condition.” Thus, euschēmōn refers to something that is “well formed” or that has a good external appearance. It is often translated as honorably, decently, or honestly.
“Revelry” is from the Greek word kōmos, referring to conduct involving “feasting, drunkenness, impurity (especially sexual), and gross obscenity.”
The word translated “drunkenness” is methē, which specifically refers to drunkenness brought on by too much wine.
“Sexual immorality” is translated from koitē, which generally refers to lying down in bed. It implies lying down in bed with someone else, as in sexual immorality.
The word “lust” is from aselgeia, which refers to uncontrolled or insatiable desire for pleasure.
Meaning Explained
In the previous two verses Paul told us to wake up, lay-aside the works of darkness and put on the weapons of our spiritual warfare.
Now, having put on the weapons of our warfare, we should walk properly or honorably, and Paul tells us to do this “as in the day.” A literal translation of this expression would be, “as if in the daytime.” The point he is making is that it is not daylight yet; it is still nighttime and we are surrounded by the works of darkness, but we need to wake up and perform the deeds of righteousness as if we were fully exposed to the world by bright light, knowing that our Lord and His “light” are coming to destroy darkness. That is, we should be behaving as if Christ had already come. The Apostle John recorded a similar message in the following words of our Lord:
And this is the verdict, the light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:19-21)
Paul now goes on to make a short list of the types of activities that go on in darkness by those who love the darkness. These include partying, drunkenness, sexual immorality, insatiable desire for pleasure, arguing, and jealousy or anger. These are the things that unsaved people do because they don’t have any way of restraining themselves. We, on the other hand, have the Holy Spirit, and we should be beacons in the night showing forth the light of our good deeds as an example of godliness.
Application
Do you yearn for the Light of Life, or do you prefer darkness? Are your words and actions a light to those in darkness around you? Or, do your actions resemble the deeds of darkness?
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved
