Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 26
Friday


THE BEST
SEASON YET

READ:
Ephesians 5:15-21
_________________________________________________________________

See then that you
walk circumspectly,
...redeeming the
time, because the
days are evil.
__Ephesians 5:15-16
__________________________________________________________________

Life is a lot like the weather...it's seasonal. It has a way of pushing us into the next season whether we like it or not. And when pushed into the next season, we are often uncertain and even fearful of what it might hold for us.

This is especially true of later seasons of life, when we are haunted by thoughts such as: Will I be left all alone? Will my health hold up? Will my money last? Will my mind stay fresh? As with every season of life, we have to make a choice__to waste the season in fearful thoughts or, as Paul says, make "the best use of the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16 ESV).

Regardless of your season, you can count on God's faithfulness. He says, " 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my helper; I will not fear' " (Heb. 13:5-6).

Because you have God's presence and provision, you can make the most of your time in every season by following Jesus closely, spending time in His Word and prayer, loving and forgiving more freely than ever before, and serving others with joy and generosity.

God has blessed us with our present season__make the most of it!__Joe Stowell

`````````````Lord, give me the grace to accept life right where```````````````
`````````````it has put me, and help me to overcome the fear````````````````
`````````````that would waste my days. Give me the wisdom`````````````````
```````````````and desire to make every day count for You.```````````````````
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LIfe matters__make the most of it!

*******************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 5:15-21*************************

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.

18 And do not be drunk with
wine, in which is
dissipation; but be filled
with the Spirit, 19 speaking
to one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the
Lord, 20 giving thanks
always for all things to God
the Father in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ,

21 submitting to one another
in the fear of God.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

After explaining how believers are saved (Eph. 1-3) Paul spent
the rest of his letter to the Ephesians instructing them how to live
their new life in Christ (Eph. 4-6). They were to "be very careful"
(5-15 NIV) in how they lived; to be wise or skillful in handling life's
challenges. because the world is evil, believers are to be "redeeming
the time" (v. 16), which literally means "to buy up the opportunity"
to work and act for God's kingdom. We are to live in a way that
pleases God (v.17). Paul gave the Roman Christians similar advice
in Romans 13:8-14. To the Galatians, he told them, "As we have
opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the
household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).