Living Room Study

Ephesians 5

“Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk – not as unwise people but as wise – making the most of the time, because the days are evil.  So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your heart, giving thanks  for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord and Messiah, Jesus, submitting to one another in the fear of Messiah.”  Ephesians 5: 15-21

We live in an age where many professing Christians spend very little time reading the Bible.  To be honest, most Christians would admit they should spend more time studying God’s Word.  When asked why they spend so little time searching the Scriptures, the average Christian answers that they simply don’t have the time, or they feel inadequate to comprehend the text.  Christians generally prefer to have the Bible filtered and dispensed through a minister, than to read it for themselves.

Today, God’s message to us, through Paul’s letter, is that we should be wise, careful, and understanding of the Lord’s will.  The Lord’s will comes in two varieties: Revealed and Unrevealed.

For instance, an example of God’s unrevealed will would be something like…how the antichrist will rise to power in the world.  While theologians may have varied opinions as to end-times scenarios, we will not know exactly how God will accomplish His will, until He reveals it in His time, according to His great wisdom.  Until then, the best we can do is to speculate.

As for God’s revealed will, that’s easy.  It is the Bible.  Everything we need to know about God, and having a right relationship with Him. is contained in the pages of scripture.

Before we come to know Jesus in a saving way, we are unwise.  We may have been successful and wise in the ways of the world, but in God’s eyes, we were foolish.  For instance, I used to live to party.  I loved the fashion, party people, and even the music I enjoyed glorified my worldly lifestyle.

But by God’s grace, I was saved and began reading the Bible.  Through the Bible, He began revealing how I should honor Him with my life.  The Psalmist was correct when he said, “He put a new song in my mouth”, because the focus of my worship had changed.         

Beyond that, when I have applied God’s instructions to my life, He has replaced my desire for “self”, with the desire to serve others.

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins