Bible League: Living His Word Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.— Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV Although the kingdom of God has invaded and is invading the earth, there is still a lot of evil to be found in it. The forces of hell don’t take kindly to the invasion of their territory. Indeed, Revelation 12:12 says, “But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” As a result, the devil and his forces contest every incursion of the kingdom of God into their territory and push back within every piece of territory that has already been taken from them. Truly, the days are evil. According to the Apostle Paul, the fact that the days are evil means certain things. First, it means that life on earth is no stroll in the park. Life on earth occurs in the middle of a spiritual battlefield. Every person on the side of the kingdom of God, consequently, must be careful how they walk. They must be careful how they live their lives. Every slip back into sin has consequences for the overall battle. Every slip back into sin surrenders territory to the devil that had already been conquered. It also stalls the invasion into new territory. Secondly, it means that our walk of life must be wise and not unwise. Although we must be “innocent as doves,” we must also be “wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16). We must use the wisdom of the serpent to avoid the attacks of the forces of hell. They seek to destroy us. They seek to turn back the invasion into their territory. The wisdom of the serpent is to understand their motives and act accordingly. The wisdom of the serpent is the ability to detect their threats and to avoid the traps they set. Snakes are no fools. Finally, it means that our walk must make best use of the time. The spiritual battle will not last forever. When Jesus Christ returns it will all be over. We must make the best use of the time between now and then by doing everything we can to advance the kingdom of God on earth and prevent it from being held back. In every area of our lives, we must bear witness to the reality of the kingdom. The days are evil. Act accordingly. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJob 13, 14, 15 Job 13 -- Job Reproves His Friends for Partiality, Professes Confidence in God's Purpose NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Job 14 -- Job Asks God for Favor Because of the Shortness of Life NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Job 15 -- Eliphaz Reproves Job for Justifying Himself; Declares the Wickedness of Men NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 8:26-40 Acts 8 -- Saul Persecutes the Church; Philip in Samaria; Simon the Sorcerer; the Ethiopian NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”Insight While praying, Jesus was aware of what doing the Father's will would cost him. He understood the suffering he was about to encounter, and he did not want to have to endure the horrible experience. But Jesus prayed, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Anything worth having costs something. Challenge What does your commitment to God cost you? Be willing to pay the price to gain something worthwhile in the end. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Exodus 7:12 But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.This incident is an instructive emblem of the sure victory of the divine handiwork over all opposition. Whenever a divine principle is cast into the heart, though the devil may fashion a counterfeit, and produce swarms of opponents, as sure as ever God is in the work, it will swallow up all its foes. If God's grace takes possession of a man, the world's magicians may throw down all their rods; and every rod may be as cunning and poisonous as a serpent, but Aaron's rod will swallow up their rods. The sweet attractions of the cross will woo and win the man's heart, and he who lived only for this deceitful earth will now have an eye for the upper spheres, and a wing to mount into celestial heights. When grace has won the day the worldling seeks the world to come. The same fact is to be observed in the life of the believer. What multitudes of foes has our faith had to meet! Our old sins--the devil threw them down before us, and they turned to serpents. What hosts of them! Ah, but the cross of Jesus destroys them all. Faith in Christ makes short work of all our sins. Then the devil has launched forth another host of serpents in the form of worldly trials, temptations, unbelief; but faith in Jesus is more than a match for them, and overcomes them all. The same absorbing principle shines in the faithful service of God! With an enthusiastic love for Jesus difficulties are surmounted, sacrifices become pleasures, sufferings are honors. But if religion is thus a consuming passion in the heart, then it follows that there are many persons who profess religion but have it not; for what they have will not bear this test. Examine yourself, my reader, on this point. Aaron's rod proved its heaven-given power. Is your religion doing so? If Christ be anything he must be everything. O rest not till love and faith in Jesus be the master passions of your soul! Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,Luke 8:18 "So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him." Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Ephesians 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Psalm 119:165,103,104 Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble. • How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! • From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Nun. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 2 Corinthians 11:14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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