Home
Living in the Light
Ephesians 5.15-20
Good News Translation (GNT)
*************************
15 So be careful how you live. Don't live like
ignorant people, but like wise people.
16 Make good use of every opportunity you have,
because these are evil days.
17 Don't be fools, then, but try to find out what
the Lord wants you to do.
18 Do not get drunk with wine, which will only
ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit.
19 Speak to one another with the words of
psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing
hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in
your hearts.
20 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
always give thanks for everything to God
the Father.
*************************
Commentary taken from
'The Applied New Testament Commentary'
(Kingsway)
Living in the Light
Ephesians 5.15-20
"How" we live is, of course, the most important practical issue in our lives.
We must be careful - diligent - to live wisely.
Once time goes by, it never comes back; an opportunity lost will never return.
... because the days are evil.
This means that man's days on earth are filled with sorrow and suffering.
In Paul's time especially, many Christians were being imprisoned and put
to death. Therefore, says Paul, as long as the chance to serve God lasts,
let Christians take every opportunity to do so. Because the day may
quickly come when we no longer have the chance.
God's will has two parts: first, His "general will"; and second, His "specific will."
God's general will is the same for all Christians; that is He wants us to be holy,
to be like Christ. We can find out what God's general will is by reading the Bible,
God's word.
But the second part of God's will, His specific will, is not the same
for every Christian. For example: Who should one marry? What course should
one study? What should one do today? Where should one go?
In matters like these, God's will is going to be different for each Christian.
Direct answers to questions such as these are not found in the Bible.
The Holy Spirit will guide us if we ask Him. When we study the Bible, we shall
better understand God's "general will," and this in turn will help us discern His
specific will. For example, the Bible doesn't tell us which girl or boy to marry,
but it does tell us that we must marry a believer.
God gave us minds and reasoning power. He does not lead us as if we were
a horse or mule with no understanding.
People drink in order to find happiness or encouragement, but of course their
happiness and encouragement lasts only a very short time. There is only one
way to find permanent joy, happiness, and encouragement, and that is by being
filled with the (Holy) Spirit. That's not a suggestion; that's a command.
And Paul actually wrote here that we should "keep on being filled" with the Spirit -
not only today and tomorrow, but all week, all month, all year, all our lives!
How will we know if we are filled with the Spirit? We will know that we are filled
with the Spirit when we see the fruits of the Spirit in our lives - that is, love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
However, what the Spirit does produce in us is great joy; the Spirit makes us
want to sing and make music to the Lord.
Let us, therefore, praise God together with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,
not only with our lips but from our hearts.
We must always give thanks to God for everything.
For sickness? For hurricanes and hailstorms? For sorrow and trouble?
Yes, for all of these. We must thank God for everything - whether good or bad.
Why? Because God is our loving heavenly Father.
No matter what troubles and difficulties He allows us to go through,
we can know with certainty that in the end God will work it out for our good.
Other versions are available here
Return to the Home Page
Contact the Rector
The Revd.
Nic.Edwards
The Rectory,
Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE,
Northampton,
NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 - 815496
(Can be accessed from the mobile device)
Mobile: .....
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed,, Thur., Fri.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
an appointment.
Who Made This?
Seeing as you asked, if you can give helpful
advice or report factual corrections and
'deliberate mistakes',email:-
regparker3 at gmail dot com
Email addresses shown using words in an
attempt to avoid 'spam',
Type the email address replacing 'at' with '@',
and 'dot' with '.'
|