This light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

— Ephesians 5:9 (NLT)

Many of us enjoy lots of freedoms in our everyday living. But sometimes we act as if we can do as we please. And we might even think we don’t have to be accountable to anyone or anything. But that can bring all kinds of hurts to ­others as well as ourselves.

If we have faced hard times, we might also think that some people or some institutions owe us. Sometimes we can begin thinking that God owes us too. We figure that we have been good, or kind, or hardworking, or whatever, and that we deserve whatever we want. We think we can decide which rules apply and which ones don’t.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5, however, that the sides are not even close to being even. Our very small contribution is nothing compared to Jesus’ sacrifice for us. We are encouraged to take hold of the truth of that sacrifice and to adjust our atti­tude and actions.

Paul is reminding us that we are called to live in such a way that our lives will shine with the light of Christ. How we live is an expression of how much we understand all that God has offered us through his Son. The light of Christ in us is what produces what is good and right and true.

Maybe the question is, How much do we owe him?

God, thank you for all you have given us through Jesus. Help us to live in a way that pleases and ­honors you. May we glorify your name in all we do. Amen.