Making the Most of Our Time

Ephesians 5:15-17
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.


Observations:
We need to take care in how we walk, with wisdom, using our time wisely. Because the days are evil this cannot be stressed enough- that we need to watch the way we walk.

It is foolish not to understand the will of the Lord

Application:
This verse never ceases to convict me.  There are even more good time-wasters available to us today with the internet and television, the ease with which we can obtain reading material.  I am not saying those things are bad.  I have a couple of shows that I love to watch.  I love to sit down with a good book.  I enjoy connecting with my friends via the internet.  But I also waste a lot of time on activities that are not fruitful, or that bring things into my life that Paul has clearly said in these past verses are not good for the believer.  How many times have I sat down just to check my email, blog, or facebook and found an hour or more has disappeared?   I better not do that and then tell the Lord I did not have time to do what He has asked of me, I did not have time to spend with Him.  Did I rush through my quiet time to get to my writing?  Is that a wise use of my time?  Not if I believe, and I do, that I have nothing worth writing if I do not spend quality time with the Lord first.  Let's make the most of our time.

Blessings,
Deb

Alive in Christ

Ephesians 5:11-14
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.  But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.  For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine in you." (Is. 60:1? Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.)


Observations:
Do not participate in unfruitful deeds.
Expose them. (these deeds done in secret)
Again, we should not even speak of them. (So how do we expose them?)
The light makes everything visible.

Application:
It's all about the fruit we bear.  (remember previous lesson.)  If I am preoccupied with the world than the fruit I bear is not going to be good.

Wake up you sleepyhead!  Time to be alive in Christ. No time for laziness.  Proverbs 6:6,9 is one of my favorites: Take a lesson from the ants you lazybones.  Learn from their ways and be wise...But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?  When will you wake up?  I don't think this verse in Ephesians is really talking about being lazy or sleeping in, but it is what popped into my head when I read it.  We dear sister-friends are no longer dead, and it is time to shine with the light of Christ.

Blessings,
Deb

Walk as Children of the Light

Ephesians 5:5-10
For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of the Light (for the fruit of the Light consists of all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.


Observations:
We know for certain those that have no inheritance in the kingdom.  (and our hearts should be grieved for them.)  Let's not deceive ourselves into thinking otherwise.  We live a world among people who are lost and without Christ.
We are to have nothing to do with their immoral actions- while this was our former state it is no longer who we are in Christ.
We are light and need to walk as children of the Light- being diligent to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Application:
I need to remember that many of the people I meet are walking in darkness.  My walk should not resemble theirs.  My walk needs to be marked by the fruit of the Light.  It will not come naturally, I need to learn what pleases the Lord.  Just like I am constantly learning the likes and dislikes of my husband so that I can be a wife that brings him pleasure.  I need to invest time in learning the likes and dislikes of God.

Blessings,
Deb

Imitators of Christ

Ephesians 5:1-4
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.  But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you. as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.




Observations:
As God's beloved children we need to imitate Him.  This means we "walk in love," remembering with what great love Christ has loved us.
There are things that should have no part in our lives: immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed. They are not even to be named among us.  It is not enough not to do these things, even speaking of them has no place in our lives.  Would that include read, what I watch? (she asks, already knowing the answer.)
Again we need to watch what passes through our lips which should be filled with thanks instead of those other things. (root word for silly talk often translated to "foolish"- the one who thinks there is no God)

Application:
Paul gives us a clear application here- be an imitator of God.  If I am to do that well, then I had better know who I am imitating.  What a rich resource we have been given, first in God's Word and then in the Holy Spirit who teaches us.

I am really struck by the idea of how we are to walk in love.  As an imitator of God  has to mean that just as Christ offered Himself as an offering and a sacrifice, my life needs to be marked by that as well.  How much of myself am I willing to offer others, sacrifice for others, in my service to God?  Christ held nothing back, He gave it ALL, even laying aside His power to die on a cross for me.  What Christ did was a pleasing aroma to the Father.  What about my offering and sacrifice?  Do I give my all, or do I hold back parts of myself?  Each day I need to decide whether I will give my all to God or live for myself.  How many little bits of me do I hold back, do I refuse to place on the altar to be burnt up completely?

I find myself convicted by the phrase, "must not even be named among you."  I have the feeling that we have ignored this part of the verse for a very long time.  I can feel pretty good about not doing these things-easy breezy- but to tag that onto it.  What am I letting pass through my eyes and ears?

We are back to what proceeds out of our lips again.  We talked about this last week, but Paul brings it up again.  Hmmm, I wonder if that is because God knew I needed to hear it again. I looked up the word Paul used in Eph. 4:29, unwholesome, and this is what I found: the word -Sapros -means "rotten, putrefied, corrupted by one and no longer fit for use, worn out, of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless."  Wow, that is quite a list.  So what kinds of words would those be?  Gossip?  Complaining? (think about Israel and there many complaints against God, Moses and Aaron.)  Arrogance?  Sarcasm?.... I found myself last week not really giving this much attention.  I found myself trying to defend the way I speak to others.  I think I will pay more attention to my speech this week to see if any unwholesome words escape.  "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Luke 6:45.

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Blessings,
Deb