THE WORD IN SEASON
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-20
Paul urges all the Ephesians to live with intentions and faithfulness, “making the most of the time”.(v.16) It’s almost the exact opposite advice of “eat, drink, and be merry.” Be careful. Don’t be foolish. Be sober. Be filled with the Spirit. Sing praises to God. Give thanks to God. Do all the things that keep your mind focused on God.
“Be careful then how you live.” The advice to “be careful” can paralyze us. We can hesitate to take any action for fear that we might make a mistake. Sometimes bravely living with intention and faithfulness means we may have a well-intentioned mistake. Our God is a forgiving God. When we slip and fall- and we will- we can ask for forgiveness with the same intention and purpose. We can sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, giving thanks to God for forgiveness and fresh starts.
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