NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Acts 2-4
SCRIPTURE READING
Eph 5:15-20 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making
the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish,
but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that
is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks
always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul begins this passage encouraging believers to walk wise. The opposite of living wise
is living foolish. When we think of a fool we think of someone who does irresponsible acts,
or who speaks irresponsible words, but the Bible defines a fool as one who exists apart
from God. A wise man is one who lives in accord with God’s divine principles. Continuing
on, at first, the rest of the passage seems like a bit of a paradox. In verse 16 we are
told that the days are evil yet in verse 19 we are to rejoice, singing songs and spiritual
hymns. Does this make sense? Paul is not naive about the world; he is not in some sort
of dream world where life is easy. Paul knows that it is beyond our understanding and
beyond our emotional ability to give thanks to God for all things; it comes with the filling
of the Holy Spirit. If we trust the Holy Spirit, He will unfold for us how our omnipotent and
all-wise Father in heaven can even take the evils of the world and work them together for
our eternal good. And that is worth rejoicing about! How do we live in evil days? We are
thankful in all things through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend some time looking at how you walk. Are you walking in wisdom or in foolishness?
Ask the Lord to reveal to you any areas of your heart where you are existing apart from God.
2. Spend some time thanking God for His sovereignty, praise Him for working all things out
for our good. Ask the Lord to give you spiritual eyes to see the many things that you can be
thankful for and rejoice in God for those things.
