Ephesians 5:8-14

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

-Ephesians 5:8-14

"for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord".  For those following Jesus, they were once darkness but now are light in the Lord.  This is the way followers are to live, walking as children of light.  AMP adds, "[live as those who are native-born to the light]".  Live as if you are that way and always have been that way, even though you once were darkness.  Paul tells his readers more about this light.  As AMP puts it, "(for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),".  That is what the light consists of and that is what children of light are to walk in.  Moreover, the goal is to do what is pleasing to the Lord, which is why Paul instructs his readers towards that goal.

Children of light are to expose the works are darkness and not participate in them.  How?  I suspected that they were to be addressed or confronted; however, the next verse tells us "For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret".  So, why would Paul ask his readers to expose the darkness then tell them that it is shameful to speak about them?  The answer is that Paul is thinking of a different approach of exposing the works of darkness.  Again, looking to AMP, "Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character];".  Paul goes on to say that things become visible when exposed by the light.  So, Paul is instructing that by living a life of integrity and godly character, one will expose the works of darkness.  This kind of living is light and the light exposes that which is darkness.  Let us be encouraged to live with integrity, moral courage and godly character.

As a final reminder, I ask myself again, "who or what is the light?".  We are told "Christ will shine on you".  Christ is light and he is the one who enables us to walk as children of light.