“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-21
Wow, what an encouraging section of Scripture. Sometimes we are left wondering about what God means when He commands us, but not with this text.
1. “Look carefully as you walk, not as unwise but as wise…” We are to actually look where we walk (remember our dad’s and mom’s telling us about how important it was to be aware of our surroundings?). And we are to walk according to God’s Word seeking to live as He directs.
2. “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” All throughout Scripture the fool has been painted as the one who rejects Christ and His ways…the one who refuses to walk as He directs. We are commanded here NOT to be that person!
3. “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery…” Wine is a good thing, given by God, but when taken to excess it ruins our witness. It is obvious that as God’s people we are not to give into the desires of the flesh that weakens our resolve for the Lord.
4. “But be filled with the Spirit…” by addressing one another with the words of God. We are to speak the language of God which is laced with actual Scriptures or the implications of Scripture making the melody of Christ’s love evident to all, starting with the household of God which is evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling.
5. “Giving thanks for EVERYTHING to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Everything is a BIG word. This includes the good like, baptizing granddaughters to the afflictions God brings into our lives. “Behold, I have refined you . . . I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it.”(Is. 48:10-11) In ways beyond our understanding, God has His own great name at stake in our suffering. In fact, the stakes are very high. The way we respond to suffering with thanksgiving isn’t just for our spiritual benefit but also God’s own good name…His glory.
6. “…submitting to one another…”This one is hard…but again jesus showed us many times how to do this. Looking to Jesus we can even humble ourselves to do this.
7. “…out of reverence for Christ.” Why aren’t we to be foolish? Well, it always comes back to reverence for Christ, as well it should. There’s simply nothing more important about us than how we relate to Him. The one question always on the table is, “Who do you say I am?” (Matt.16:15; Mark 8:29). How we respond impacts everything about us.
So, what does it mean to “revere” Jesus? Well, it certainly doesn’t mean to be afraid of Him, for His perfect love drives out all fear.
1. We revere Him when we do not give into our sinfulness but when we, being filled with His Spirit, give thanks in everything, even affliction, and as we submit to one another by loving one another as Jesus loved us.
2. When we revere Him, we show up as servants in our relationships—not as doormats, but as foot-washers. Not as slaves to man, but as children of Abba. Not to make anybody happy or holy, (which is impossible), but to love others as He loved us.
3. We revere Him when we forgive as He forgave us; when we forbear with others as He forbears with us every second of every minute; when we extend mercy and grace, as He extravagantly does to us all the time.
To some up in short order what God says to us through Paul, Look where you walk, do not act the fool by letting the world and your flesh direct your path, instead since you are filled with the Spirit speak to one another with the language of God giving thanks and submitting to one another. WHY?…“out of reverence for Christ.” We say we believe in Him, that He is the Son of God who died, rose again and ascended securing our salvation…so let’s live out our confession.
God Bless y’all today.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
