September 1, 2016 BEING CAREFUL
Ephesians 5:15-16: “Be careful, them, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
In the fifth chapter of Ephesians, Paul is admonishing the believers to be careful as to how they live their lives, and he gives specific instructions for living is such a way that is in keeping with their new identity as new creations. The believers who lived during the time that the New Testament was written, lived in difficult times where persecution and immorality were the norm, and in fact, Paul described the days as being evil. There is a great tendency to capitulate to the ways of the culture in which one lives, and in fact, unless resisted, one becomes a part of the culture, and so the admonition and the warning not to “go with the flow” when it comes to the culture is a message to believers of our day. As someone said, as believers, we are to be change agents of the culture instead of being changed by the culture. As we live in the culture, and as we interact with those who live according to the culture, we must be careful not to become judgmental or project an air of superiority, but just as Jesus did, we are to have compassion on those who do not know Him and we are to be light (light helps us as well as others) in a dark world. In fact, we are to “make the most of every opportunity” as ambassadors who have been called to represent the kingdom of God. Because we too live in “evil days,” we are not to be foolish, but are to live as wise men and women who have been given wisdom that comes from God. The culture has lost its way and is in desperate need of light, and as believers, we have the mandate to be that light, and when we are being light, we are in the will of God. No matter in what circumstance we find ourselves, and no matter what is taking place in the culture, we are to be looking for every opportunity to let the light of His kingdom shine. Let us heed the message of being careful as to how we live.
Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
2 Corinthians 5:20: “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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