Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 2
Monday


THE CAREFUL
WALK

READ:
Ephesians 5:1-17
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One of my favorite places to visit in Jamaica is Ocho Rios, home of Dunn's River Falls--a spectacle that never ceases to amaze. Water cascades down a long series of rocks as it makes it way to the Caribbean Sea. Adventurers can climb the falls, scrambling over rounded rocks on an invigorating trek to the top. The flowing water, the potentially slippery surface, and the steep angles make the going slow and a bit treacherous.

To make it safely to the top, climbers must watch every step. If a person is not careful, he or she could fall on the journey. The keys to a successful climb are concentration and caution.

I can't think of a better picture of what Paul is saying in Ephesians 5:15 when he says, "walk circumspectly." We should "be very careful...how [we] live" (NIV). Clearly, with all of life's possible dangers coming our way as we climb through life, it is vital that we take each step with Jesus wisely and cautiously. A fool, the passage says, lives carelessly; a wise person watches each step so he does not stumble or fall.

Our goal of being "imitators of God" (v.1) is met, Paul says, as we walk carefully in love (vv.2,15). Through the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can walk in a way that honors God. __Dave Branon

``````````````````````````Consistency! How much we need````````````````````````
``````````````````````````````To walk a measured pace,```````````````````````````
`````````````````````````To love the life of which we speak````````````````````````
````````````````````````Until we see Christ's face. __Anon.````````````````````````
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As we trust God to rule our hearts
our feet can walk His way.

*************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 5:1-17***********************************

1 Therefore be imitators of
God as dear children. 2 And
walk in love, as Christ also
has loved us and given
Himself for us, an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a
sweet-smelling aroma.

3 But fornication and
all uncleanness or
covetousness, let it not even
be named among you, as is
fitting for saints; 4 neither
filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor coarse jesting,
which are not fitting, but
rather giving of thanks.

5 For this you know, that
no fornicator, unclean
person, nor covetous man,
who is an idolater, has any
inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ and God. Let
no one deceive you with
empty words, for because
of these things the wrath of
God comes upon the sons of
disobedience. 7 Therefore do
not be partakers with them.

8 For you were once
darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Walk as
children of light 9 (for the
fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness, righteousness,
and truth), 10 finding out
what is acceptable to the
Lord. 11 And have no
fellowship with the
unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather expose
them. 12 For it is shameful
even to speak of those
things which are done by
them in secret. 13 But all
things that are exposed
are made manifest by the
light, for whatever makes
minifest is light.

14 Therefore He says:
"Awake, you who sleep, rise
from the dead, and Christ
will give you light."

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.