Read: Ephesians 5:15–21
Watch: Holiness (BibleProject)
Pay Attention to How You Live
“Be careful.” “Have a care.” “Take care.” These are common expressions we use to tell someone to watch out or look ahead. Paul uses this same tone of exhortation regarding how we live within the Kingdom. Continuing his contrast between light and dark, he gives us a clear choice in how we spend our days:
The Way of Darkness:
- Living like a fool.
- Acting thoughtlessly.
- Being drunk with wine—a path that leads to a ruined life.
The Way of Light:
- Living with wisdom.
- Making the most of every opportunity.
- Understanding what the Lord wants you to do.
- Being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
- Filling your heart with the music of God.
- Giving thanks to God for everything in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Desire of the Heart
Again, I ask: which list of character traits do you desire to be known by?
Personally, I don’t want to be the fool who acts without thought, or the one who allows a substance to control and ruin my life. Instead, I desire to be a person of wisdom who sees Jesus’ hand in every situation—someone who listens to the Lord and is filled with the Holy Spirit, evidenced by a harvest of spiritual fruit. I want a heart filled with the “music of heaven,” producing a life of gratitude for everything that comes from the hand of God through Jesus Christ.
The Great Reset
So, pay attention to how you live! Where is your focus? What is the joy of your heart? In whom—or what—do you put your trust? If the answer to any of these is anything other than Jesus, it’s time for a reset.
Being filled with the Spirit isn’t a one-time event; it means intentionally focusing and re-focusing your heart, mind, and will on Jesus. It is a daily cooperation with God’s power. As James 4:8 says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” Or as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer: “Your Kingdom come (in my life), Your will be done (in my heart).”
Pray: Holy Spirit, Light and Glory of God, breathe on me! Fill me with Yourself so that my heart sings with joy as I give thanks for everything to You. Amen.
Discussion Questions:
The Gratitude Reset: Verse 20 says to give thanks for everything.
Is there a difficult circumstance in your life right now where you find it nearly impossible to give thanks? How does “filling your heart with the music of God” change your perspective on that specific struggle?
The “Time” Audit: Paul tells us to “make the most of every opportunity” (or “redeem the time”). If you looked at your phone’s screen-time report or your weekly calendar, would it look like you are redeeming the time or just consuming it?
What is one “wise” shift you can make this week?
The Filling vs. The Feeling: Being “filled with the Spirit” is contrasted with being “drunk with wine.” Both involve being under the influence of something.
What is the difference between waiting for a “feeling” of the Spirit and intentionally “cooperating” with the Spirit through prayer and worship?