| A cursory glance at any news periodical or a casual ear toward a news
broadcast readily reveals that we are living in evil days. Evil abounds.
Much of it has been redefined or renamed masquerading as acceptable. Nevertheless,
it remains obvious, these are evil days.
Such days require God's people - a people who once lived in darkness but now are people of light (Ephesians 5:8) - to live careful wise lives. Be very careful, then, 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. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:15-18) This careful wise life is not a calculated fearful watch-every-step walk. Rather it is a bold powerful journey. It is a life poised to recognize and make the most of every opportunity. A life shining in the darkness ready to respond and minister to the needs the light exposes. A life positioned to hear God's will and poised to fulfill it. This not only describes the careful Christian, it also describes the wise person. Foolish people ignore God. Foolish people neither seek nor desire to know God's will. Their lives are lived as a drunkard; under the influence of something. Like the drunk the fool is intoxicated, driven by a power to which he has relinquish his life; be it wine, chemicals, position, prestige, self, money or things. The wise person, rather than living drunk, seeks to be continually filled with Spirit. The wise person recognizes that only through the Spirit's enablement and empowerment can a careful wise life be lived. Only a daily dying out, a daily re-consecration and a fresh continual filling of the Holy Spirit can enable a person to live holy fruitful lives. Such a life as this erupts into worship and true holy community. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-21; see 5:22- 6:20 which reveals what Spirit-filled living looks like in everyday life). Beloved these are evil days. Let us be filled with the Spirit and live careful and wise! Keep close to Jesus.
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