We will still be looking into characteristics of a Christ Follower. What it looks like to live in the "New Nature" that we are called to live in by having relationship with God. Each week we have discussed different issues from controlling our tongues speaking words of life, to being humble and forgiving. This week I pray it will be challenging yet again. Something that seems to be pressing upon my heart is Eph. 5:15-16 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. This I think is a very challenging verse selection because it pretty much sums up all the other verses we have been looking at. It states to carefully examine you life and to live wise. Making the most of every opportunity. Now some may think well I live wise always and I would challenge you to carefully examine every part of your life. What do you think it means when it says live wise? What does making the most of every opportunity mean? I think it is a matter that you must wrestle with. Are you truly being responsible in all areas of your life? Making wise decisions with your finances? Are you taking time out of your day to spend with the Lord? Where are your priorities? Is your time with the Lord something that you add to the list of duties and if you get to it you get to it, or is it at the top and never a negotiation YOU GET TO IT NO MATTER WHAT! Are you taking advantage everyday to share the love that God has for you to those around you? Whether it be your family, friends, co-workers, customers, strangers in the stores. Are you intentionally looking for opportunities to serve people at any given moment or are you stuck in a place that you can't see past your own needs. I think the thing that gets me the most is how easy it is for me to get caught up in myself. In my discomfort, or in my embarrassment to share my faith. That isn't living wise, my faith in God is the one thing that I have that I must share with everyone. It is my responsibility as a Christ Follower to display God's love in my life and give it to others. It is the one thing that can truly change a life. If there is one area that we must walk wise in, it is this area right here. Choosing to tell everyone we come in contact with about God, His love, and the relationship that is available to them through His Son.
I have been really examining my life this last week and seeing what things I am engaging in that aren't necessarily bad things but they aren't life giving nor is it wise to spend so much time doing them. I have made adjustments and still searching ways to make the most of every opportunity. It is just like this site, I have felt the Lord impress upon me to take time each week and give a challenge to anyone that may read this site. I don't know how many people read this, but at least I'm taking advantage of an opportunity and if just one person read this and it changed their entire relationship with the Lord then that is why I am doing this!!
Examine yourself this week, pray and ask the Lord to reveal ways that you may be living unwise. THEN seek Him so that He may guide you into how you can begin to live a life of wisdom and making the most of every opportunity that He has given you. Each day we have so many choices to make, all I ask is for you to pray and allow God to guide you into making the next right decision. Tons of things will happen in this but the 2 I will point out is you will increase the time you spend in prayer if you are constantly seeking His direction for the next right decision. Then the other thing is you'll be living in the will of God every moment! What satisfaction that would bring to know everything you're doing each day is bringing a smile to the face of your Lord!
