Be Very Careful How You Live

Ephesians 5:1-21 A life without a plan and purpose will certainly be a downhill journey. If you live your life with no direction, when you get to the end, you will not be where you want to be. Hell is the only ultimate destination that can be reached easily with no planning necessary. Every road, except One will get you there. Some will get you there more quickly than others. Our Scripture today gives us some guidelines. First, we’re given a model to pattern our lives after — God Himself. Jesus gives us the pattern for God’s kind of love. Even though we can’t come any were near the quantity or quality of God, we can say and do things that are of the same kind and point in that direction. In verse 3 and following we are given a list of things that our lives should not even contain a hint of, including sexual immorality, greed, obscenity, etc. In verse 10, we are told to find out what pleases the Lord. Next there are some things that we should have nothing to do with. Our lives should be lived with care and wisdom. We need to watch for and take advantage of opportunities to exhibit the character and deeds of Christ. The days are evil, and the time is short, and we may not pass that way again. Don’t be drunk on wine, or any other kind of intoxicant — they make you part of the problem. God’s alternative is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not an escape, He’s the Solution. To be filled with and in submission to Him, we can be empowered to know and to do the will of God. Finally, we are to encourage one another as we praise and worship the Lord together.