Day 27: Grateful for a Transformed Life!
13But when the light shines on them, it becomes clear how evil these things are. 14And where your light shines, it will expose their evil deeds. This is why it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light." 15So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. 16Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. 17Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:13-17
Our lives are to be like “spotlights” shining Jesus’ light wherever we go and exposing evil deeds. While that may sound a little on the self-righteous side, remember that it isn’t what we do when it comes to exposing evil deeds, but HOW we do it that determines whether it is done from self-righteousness, or from a genuine desire to help others to live what is good and right and true! In Ephesians 4, Paul told us that we are always to speak the truth in love. When we do that others will know that our goal is their blessing and benefit, not self-righteousness.
Paul reminds us to be “…careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. 16Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. 17Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. Care in living is easy to talk about, but not always easy to do. Many times we go about the day without taking care for how we live. We’re preoccupied with so many things that we just forget to be careful. Sometimes, our falling into sin is just a matter of not thinking. Nevertheless, sin is sin, so we must take care in our living, so that we will be WISE. Part of wisdom is making the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. We can be sure that we WILL have many opportunities for doing good each day, if we are paying attention. The key is to see the opportunities and act on them. Again, our preoccupation with our own agendas is often the biggest stumbling block to making the most of every opportunity for doing good. Be sure that as you go about this day that you pay attention to the opportunities for doing good that God sets before you, and then by His grace and power within you ACT!
Questions and Comments for Reflection and Action:
What do you need to do right now to ensure that you WILL make the most of every opportunity for doing good? Be specific.
Take some time right now to thank God for giving you wisdom so that you can live more and more as His transformed son or daughter.