APR 25

Ephesians 5:15-16
Memorise Ephesians 5:17
“… be ye not unwise…understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Do you know that when you walk and stare at your phone, your field of vision is reduced to 5%? This is a recipe for a disaster waiting to happen! Yet many choose to be reckless, believing nothing bad is going to happen to them. Sadly, this is very much like how some Christians choose to approach life – recklessly, with no regard for their spiritual safety.

The Word of God instructs us to walk circumspectly, as one with wisdom rather than recklessly as fools. A circumspect person is one who is cautious of and unwilling to take risks. One easy way to understand the word ‘circumspect’ is to break it down into its parts. Literally, it has the meaning of inspecting one’s circumference. It speaks of careful discernment of the things around us, such that the choices that we make and the actions we take are only done after careful consideration. This is the Christian’s approach to the world – careful and discerning. He is wise, knowing the Word and applying it to a world that is full of sin. This then leads him to redeem time. This is a strange idea as redeem means to gain, get back. Its old English meaning is ‘buy back’. How can anyone get or buy back time? We waste our time when we do things that do not honour God. But when we engage in spiritual activities – service, good works, witnessing – we gain back time in the sense that these things will count for eternity. Remember, we live in evil times and so the need to walk carefully and wisely, not blindly. Time is precious and it is limited. In contrast, a fool does as he pleases, follows the world and wastes his life away.

The world will cajole you: ‘You only live once, so live it up! C’mon – break the rules, just a little. Nothing bad is going to happen. Just one puff, just one sip… a glance or two at a sinful website.’ Yet who knows best? Your Heavenly Father who is your creator, or sinful man – the creation? The world promises you fun, but to what end? Where will it lead you? No addict ever sets out to be an addict. It all begins with just one try… and then another… Keeping a reformed life is not easy. Studying the Word of God daily to understand what God’s will is for you will enable you to walk wisely and not as a fool. It’s your choice.

Thought: If you lack knowledge and wisdom to walk wisely now, and have no time for God, what makes you think you will have them in the future?
Prayer: Lord, may I remember you, my Creator, now in the days of my youth and may You enable me to live according to Thy will.