July 11

“The fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”—Ephesians 5:9 (R.V.).

THE fruit of the Light is in all Goodness. It is grace embodied. It is vanity, and selfishness, and evil temper, and malice, and envy, shamed and burnt out of the soul by the holy fire of the love of God in Jesus Christ. It is the warmth, the tenderness, the generosity, the charity, which are learned beneath the Cross. I would bear without abuse “the grand old name of gentleman.” Lord, I wish to be good.

And the fruit of the Light is in all Righteousness. It is not only fervent feeling and passionate devotion. It is high principle, scrupulous honour, stern fidelity to duty. It is the sanctification of the conscience. It is loyalty to God’s holy and perfect law. It is the quality, the distinct aroma, of that heart which is in thorough and glad sympathy with this law. I would scorn to stoop to anything crooked or unworthy or doubtful. Lord, I wish to be righteous.

And the fruit of the Light is in all Truth. Something more than truth of words—my speech, my action, my thought consistent and harmonious and transparent. There is no affectation. There is no make-believe. There is no pretence. There is no “little pitted speck” in the garnered fruit. The man is an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. I would be saved from sham work, sham feeling, sham service, sham orthodoxy. Lord, I do wish to be true.

Let Thy Light shine on me, and in me, and through me, more and more. Help me to walk day by day with my unseen Saviour, who is Light of Light.