August 31, 2017. Devotions in Ephesians

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. (Eph 5:8-21 NKJ)

Sunday morning you can always tell where a Christian has been walking all week, whether they have walked in the light or darkness, whether they have walked wisely or foolishly.  You can tell by what they have to offer.  Instead of a living sacrifice or a sacrifice of praise, they have no voice and are empty, whatever benefit they gained from the previous service has drained away, and they’re running on empty.

If you believe that the church is there to entertain you and touch the pleasure centers of your brain, how wrong can you be? Paul encourages us to walk in the light, be wise and be filled (continuously) with the Spirit.  Then when you as the church walk in the fellowship, you have something to offer out of the excess that God has poured into you, offering psalms, hymns, stories, poems or a spiritual song.

I am looking forward to hearing what you have to share this coming Sunday and together we will bless the Lord.