Ephesians 5:15-20

Ephesians 5:15-20

Therefore, notice carefully how you all walk around not as unwise but as wise, working urgently with the time, because the days are evil.  Because of this, do not become senseless but understand what is the will of the Lord.  And do not become intoxicated by wine, in which is recklessness, but be filled in the Spirit while speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs while chanting and singing with instruments in your heart to the Lord while giving thanks at all times in everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul tells us very clearly here about wisdom and senselessness.  We are to take notice of how we walk around – i.e. live.  The pull of the world will draw us into senseless action.  The draw of the world will cause us to do things that have so little value.  But Paul tells us that we are to make the most of our days.  Although the days are evil – perhaps because the days are evil – we must work hard.  In order to make the most of our days, it is important that we are focused on the will of the Lord.  Here is the secret to not becoming senseless or unwise: focus upon and do the will of the Lord.

Do you know what the will of the Lord is for you?  How do you discern that?  How do you stay on that course once you find it?

Second Thought:

Paul then talks about alcohol.  He tells us not to become intoxicated.  We can call this drunkenness; Paul is not making a case about small amounts of wine such as you might encounter in church at communion.  But the neat thing is that to which Paul compares intoxication.  He says that it is reckless.  The word here means “action without thinking of consequence.”  What makes being intoxicated wrong is that it is selfish.  It takes no account of the community around us.  It is an action that is purely based in the self-centered desires of the individual without regard of the people around them.  In contrast, compare this to being filled with the Spirit of God.  With the Spirit of God, we are filled with God’s presence and learn to look outward and make disciples.  Drunkenness is about self-centeredness; spirituality is about community.

When you think about drunkenness, do you think it makes sense to think of it as a communal sin – that is, a sin rooted in self-centered ignorance of the people around us?  Why is such behavior an anathema to God?

Third Thought:

In the last phrases in this section of scripture we get a true sense of rejoicing.  Paul tells us to give thanks in everything.  He tells us to speak psalms (that is, spiritual poetry).  He tells us to chant (that is, to sing melodically without instruments).  He tells us to sing with instruments.  In other words, Paul wants us to be joyful.  Spirituality isn’t about dour and grim behavior.  Spirituality is about rejoicing in the Lord for what He has done for us!

Is your spirituality joyful?  What helps you be joyful in the Lord?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 5:22-24