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 Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus.It is ever the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, "Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus." All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all." Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee--it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee--it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument--it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus." Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee. "My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness: I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name." Daily Light on the Daily Path Job 19:25 "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Hebrews 7:24,25 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. • Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. John 14:19 "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 1 Corinthians 15:19,20 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. • But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. Isaiah 59:20 "A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 1 Peter 1:15,19 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; • but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 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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