Walk in Wisdom

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17, NKJV) [Read Ephesians 5:15-21].

Walking in wisdom always requires seeking God as guide. And how can a person do that? First, avidly and sincerely study the Word of God, for it is, as the Psalmist declares, “a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). From the Word of God, written and preserved for our edification and wisdom, the issues of life are covered. Add to Bible study prayer. “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him when He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Jesus promised that if we “ask…seek…knock” (Matthew 7:7) we will receive of the Lord. It is imperative that we “walk in the wisdom of the Lord” at this time, for “the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). We have only to listen to a newscasts or read the daily paper to know, indeed, that we live in very troublous and evil times, with fraud, murder, subterfuge, wars, every evil the mind can conceive afoot in our society. We could become very depressed, give up and say, “Why try?” But the God-seeking heart knows that above all human deviations God is in control. And in wisdom we seek to walk in His way and in His will. And moreover, He will grant us the strength to walk in His way.

The cited passage for today tells us “not to be drunk with wine which leads to debauchery,” (Ephesians 5:18). Sobriety and abstinence from drugs and alcohol are necessary for wisdom to be operative. We need all the “brain-power” we can muster to be on guard against evil and to do good. And an excellent way to approach each day is to invite the Lord into all that you do. Begin by praise, “singing and making music in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). Furthermore, “give thanks to God the Father in everything” (v. 20). Now, that is a hard one to do. Personally, I have had to struggle with giving thanks for my husband’s condition of Alzheimer’s. How can “bad things happen to good people?” But there are so many things for which to give thanks: his care, provision for it, his comfort and meeting his needs as much as possible. Thanks is so much better than pity or regret. “Be very careful, then, how you live, --not as unwise but as wise—making the most of every opportunity (Eph. 5:15). God is in control. Therefore, walk in the wisdom of God. And ‘be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ’ (Eph. 5:21). These are required in the circumspect walk. May we think on these things and sincerely seek to follow the paths of wisdom.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Tuesday, June 22, 2010