Ephesians 5:15-21
Paul advices and cautions us in Ephesians 5:15 to look carefully at, and to be careful about, our Christian walk. He then goes on putting before us things that are good for, and contribute to, the right kind of walk, and he also tells us things that will hamper and deter us.
The goal Paul sets before us today is to walk wisely. So what is that going to look like for you this week or this month? Was there an instruction or a caution from Ephesians 5:15-21 that you can use and put into action? Tami W.
-- Elton Trueblood in "While It Is Day" wrote; "No vital Christianity is possible unless at least three aspects
of it are developed. These are the inner life of devotion, the
outer life of service, and the intellectual life of rationality."
Walking the way Jesus desires us to walk (or live) is an action verb. It is very difficult to focus on not doing what is wrong. Rather, when we do what is right, there won't be time left for doing what is wrong. To just sit around and try to keep myself from doing the wrong thing almost inevitably leads to trouble for me. But if I'm actively involved "walking" in the Spirit because I'm giving thanks or singing praises or whatever, then I'm able to walk in a way that pleases God.
Once when I was in high school, I was so busy staring at someone, I walked right into a light post. These days its trying to send a text while driving... No accidents yet BUT enough close shaves to stop doing it.
The message for me today is to keep my eyes on the prize and also to make the best use of the time I have to do His will. Thats not alwasy easy with all the distractions around us. The surest way to get to your destination is to follow the map. So that means reading and studying our road map - The Bible, even more, and Powered by 4 is very helpful in accomplishing this.
Going into 2011 I need to be learn more how to give thanks ALWAYS and in EVERTYTHING!!! God knows it aint easy... However, its interesting that Paul continues on to say 'submitting to one another'... maybe by being accountable to others 'we' can encourage each other to BE thankful....
I think I should be careful I don't make hurried decisions and not do things in a hurry. Along with today's selected reading I read the verses before the selected reading and also the previous chapter. I found it good for me to read and hope to review it later.