Scripture: Ephesians 5.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

Ephesians 5:15-20 (GW)

15 So then, be very careful how you live. Don’t live like foolish people but like wise people.

16 Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days.

17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants.

18 Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit 19 by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts.

20 Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

Paul saw the struggle that the Ephesian church had with trying to live in accordance with Christ’s instructions, so he gave them some tips on how to do this. In believing that the Word of God is specifically placed in His Word for the benefit of His followers today, I therefore believe that God knew that His church today – you and I, fellow Christians, would have the same struggles today, and He wanted us to have the tools and advice at our fingertips to deal with the problem. Let’s therefore look at some of the tips given to us to live our lives worthy of our calling as children of God:

• Live as wise people – I believe that we are being told to be wise in our decision making and not just do what comes natural, or accept everything as mere luck or undirected wisdom for our daily living. In being wise we will read God’s Word and seek His will about those things that He would have us do, rather than just accepting everything that might come our way as a natural course of action for our daily living. Seek God first, and His righteousness……
  
• Make the most of opportunities – I believe that God is telling us to not let an opportunity slip by where He presents us with excellent opportunities to witness, love and influence someone in need of the Savior;
  
• Understand what the Lord wants – get into His Word, associate with other believers, listen to the preaching of His Word, pray – and all these things will become evident to you;
  
• Be filled with the Spirit – when we are reciting psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, we will fill our hearts and soul with the things of God. When we sit idly by or constantly gossip about people, we are most often foolish and filling our hearts and minds with ungodly things that will be no benefit to the kingdom;
  
• Always thank God – It is very challenging to thank God and praise Him when we are not following the wise advice emphasized above. Let’s keep our minds fixed on Jesus and enjoy the peace of constantly thanking Him and praising Him in all of life’s circumstances, because we are crediting Him for blessing us with each and every occurrence.
  

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, please humble me today so that I may use these words to guide my footsteps and mold my thought process. May I be wise in my decision making and careful in how I live my life. Nothing else matters when I face You and parallel my life with what You have exampled before me and shown me in Your Word. Thank You Father for loving me enough that You would guide my thought process and my every step in life’s journey. Please now give me the boldness to follow Your will for my life. May I not give reason for You to be disappointed in my walk or in my talk or in my actions towards others today.

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
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