A Time Well Spent
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So Shall I Walk
So Shall I Walk
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
# Theme: (A) Time Well Spent.
It is no secret for many of us that we live during challenging times.
Challenging because of one's internal battle—the Apostle Paul described it this way in his letter:
Romans 7:19 (CSB) For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.
Challenging also because of the world around us. In our opening text the Apostle Paul references their current time—saying the days are evil.
It was and it is "the present age".
The present age: as opposed to the coming age when Jesus will return and vanquish evil.
Paul says, "...the days are evil."
What does it mean that the days are evil?
It means that the days are morally bad.
Paul wrote to Timothy, his spiritual son,
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NKJV) 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
The words penned by the prophet Isaiah ring familiar in my mind today:
14 Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands afar off;
For truth is fallen in the street,
And equity cannot enter.
As I think about Sister Breonna Taylor, that justice for her has yet to come, Apostle Paul's words come back to me, "...the days are evil."
The present age is characterized by disobedience and the corrupting influence of Satan.
Well, what do we do?
Paul instructs the church body in Ephesus to walk in God's love, God's light and God's wisdom.
In Ephesians 5:15 Paul says:
With thoughtful intention, live (daily), as wise people, not foolish people, reclaiming time because the days in which we live are morally bad.
He says: Making the most of today or taking advantage of the present time.
To do so, use God's wisdom.
Wisdom is the seized opportunity to do/live life differently—according to a knowledge-base one has—wisdom that pleases God and leads to life is based on/drawn from the knowledge of God.
(For instance: an example of worldly wisdom vs wisdom and understanding that comes from what God teaches:)
Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV) 43 "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 "And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more [than others?] Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
God's will is to bring all of creation under the authority of Christ.
Ephesians 1:9–10 (NKJV): having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
(God's will is to bring all of creation under the authority of Christ. )
We can look to Jesus as our example for how to live wisely—in a way that redeems time for God's purposes.
How did Jesus walk in wisdom?
Jesus learned, gained and applied God's truth over worldly wisdom.
Jesus did what had most value to God and to Jesus' relationship with God--took time to rest, pray; choose obedience and God's will.
Jesus empowers those around Him by speaking life and truth--Peter, flesh and blood has not revealed this to you
Jesus resisted a popularity contest recognizing that God is the final judge.
Jesus didn't allow what others thought that He should do persuade Him from walking out God's will for His life. "Permit even this...get behind me satan...)
Let's consider this account of Jesus:
1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
Indeed, a miracle has taken place. Later on the man now healed says:
John 9:32-33 (NKJV) 32 "Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 "If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."
Q: What opportunities does today present for God to reveal Himself in you, in your situations, in situations surrounding you?
If you were to look up, look around where you are right now, are their any candidates for a miracle from God?
Now I know redeeming the time is not all about miracles—it's about right living during times of so much wrong.
But this morning I want to stretch you and challenge you. (...to bring the most from God out of this present age.)
How does this all happen?
How do you find/create/enable/live into/receive these opportunities? (Opportunities for God to reveal Himself?)
(it should be understood that when God reveals Himself there is a permanent shift, a shift that cannot be gone back on. The man born blind said:)
John 9:25 (NKJV) He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner [or not] I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."
In this story we have: Participants, Witnesses, and those Unaware.
You participate in what God does, witness what God does, or are unaware of what God does—just see the aftermath and are left wondering "is it God?".
Participate
1. When you are in need of the miracle, obey what God tells you...recognizing that you can obey only the word that you know. Walk with God's Spirit so that you can know the truth. Walk with God's Spirit through His Word and through your world. Let the Divine Guide be your daily guide.
Sis Tasha Cobbs' song: "...there is a miracle in this room with my name on it."
2. When there is a divine need around you ask "the next question". Recognize that the first question is the obvious question and it is the next question that makes room for God.
Asking the next question required a shift in expectation, a bold understanding that declares "if God knew something about this then He would do something about this." Like Mary and Martha sending word to Jesus that their brother, Jesus' friend, Lazarus, was sick. Martha and Mary sent word, in my mind, because the sisters thought Jesus didn't know/must not know and informing Jesus would certainly shift the outcome.
Q: have you ever come to a situation in life and moment in life where you found yourself telling God about it—informing God about what's going down, how it's happening and how it feels...perhaps thinking God doesn't know about this that is going on, God can't know about this because if God knew about this then surely He would do something about this because this...this hurts? This is not what I had in mind. This is not what I signed up for. This must be a mistake. "God I know that you said that You would never leave me nor forsake me but right now it feels like you are unaware of what's going on for me right now. God this loss hurts. This situation is too hard to bear. God, I thought that you called me to this endeavor? I thought this relationship was in Your will. I thought that this program was Your divine will for my life. God, things are different than I expected."
And here is the shift that Martha stepped into
John 11:21-22 (NKJV) 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."
Q: when faced with a situation—when you have done all that you can do—are you inviting God to do what only He can do?
It's in these moments that God sets Himself apart and introduces Himself to you and those around you.
When we ask the next question we draw attention from what is and what was, redirecting it to what can be. We invite an expectancy, a curiosity, an anticipation...setting the stage for God because eyes are off of mankind and open for/looking for/asking for a change. God steps in.
3. When there is divine need around you, be the vessel through whom God may choose to work.
Matthew 10:8 (NKJV)
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Acts 1:8 (NKJV) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Participate.
Redeeming the time is an opportunity for more light and more love. Living wisely brings these opportunities forward.