Monday, August 3, 2015

Eph. 5 Part 4

Ephesians 5:15-17 Part 4

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (ESV)  Eph. 5:15-17

"Not as unwise but as wise,"

As we examine ourselves it is wisdom we must seek in our walk.  Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.  Do we fear Him.

The fear of the Lord is often a tough concept for believers.  Surrounded and sealed by the love of God they struggle with the idea of fearing Him.  But fear cn be a healthy hing.  We need to remember God's judgement and wrath and much as we remember His grace and lovingkindness.  One is meaninless without he other.  We must never lose the awe and fear of the Lord because if and when we do we weaken the effects of grace in our lives and blunt our gratitude.

We also lose the aility to have a real and tangible hope of heaven when we forget hell.  Yes, we are saved from hell and for heaven but they both have to stay in our minds and hearts for us to be whole in our thinking.

The wisdom we must have is well described by James in James 3:17

"The wisdom from above is furst pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocracy."

This is the criteria for wise self-examination.

The Psalmist writes, "So teach us to number our days.  That we may present to You a heart of wisdom."  Psa. 90:12

Solomon admonishes us, "The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way.  But the foolishness of fools is a dedeit."  Prov. 14:8

We need desperately to be willing for God to shine His light into all the cracks and crannies of our lives and to show us the dust-bunny sins we so easily overlook.

This is not an examination for condemnation but rather an oepn hearted willingness to see our deep need for Christ's continued redemption of our lives.                                                                                                                                                                                            

We hear calls today for a revival in the church but the a revival in the whole is dependent upn a revival in the parts.  It is personal revival, individual revival that must take place.  We must reclaim and re commit to our fist love and to the Lordship of Christ (which of course means our servanthood as well0.  It is my revival and your revival that must happen and not some quirky general enthusiasm in the body that we are in need of.

Wisely and pryerfully consider your walk.  Is it straight?  Does is seek to glorify and honor Him.  Is it a grateful walk?  Is it a dependent walk?  A wise man knows it is not as straight, honoring, grateful of deppendent as it can be if we but give it due ans prayerful consideration.