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“Paul’s theme for tonight, for us, is how we walk,” said Thomas White in Thursday evening’s general session. Walking is one of Paul’s favorite metaphors for one’s way of life. Throughout Ephesians 5:1–21, drawing on this metaphor, he presents a picture of what the Christian life should look like.

First, Christians should walk in love (5:1–2). This means being imitators of God, White said, and resisting every impulse toward self-centeredness and self-absorption. As in all other areas, our ultimate example is Christ Himself: “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (5:2).

Second, believers should walk in light (5:3–14). Their lives should be characterized by a righteousness and holiness that has its source in Christ Himself. “What the text is saying to us here is not that we’re in the light, but that we are the light,” White explained. Just as Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12), so also believers are to function as lights in a darkened world (Matt. 5:16). “God is light,” White said. “We, as imitators of God, should be children of light.”

Third, we should walk in wisdom (5:15–21). As believers allow themselves to be controlled by (“filled with”) the Spirit, they become recipients of God’s wisdom and are enabled to live in such a way that “[redeems] the time, because the days are evil” (5:15). The result is a manner of life that overflows with thanksgiving and praise to God (5:19–20).

“What characteristics do you want to be known by?” White concluded. “We should want to be known as people who walk in love, walk in light, and walk in wisdom. We will never be known tomorrow for things which we are not doing today.”