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Written by Rob Barkman for “Settled In Heaven Ministries” @ http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/

View original post @ http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/sihs-think-on-these-things-ephesians-516/

SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 5:16
by Rob Barkman

                                                           “Reflections Of His Grace”

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

The Grace Of Wisdom (5:15-21)

Eph 5:15-21 KJV

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

This devotional, continues to look at the second main division of the book of Ephesians. Previously, we have looked at “Reflections Of His Grace Revealed” (chaps 1-3). It that section, Paul revealed to us the gracious works of the Lord in the lives of His chosen people.

In this new section “Reflections Of His Grace Applied” (chaps 4-6) Paul will be explaining to us the practical effects of God’s grace in the lives of His people.

1. The Grace Of Unity (4:1-6)
2. The Grace Of Maturity (4:7-16)
3. The Grace Of Renewal (4:17-32)
4. The Grace Of Imitation (5:1-14)
5. The Grace Of Wisdom (5:15-21)
6. The Grace Of Relationships (5:22-33)
7. The Grace Of Authority/Submission (6:1-9)
8. The Grace Of Preparedness (6:10-21)

The next effect of God’s grace we will be looking at is the grace of WISDOM (5:15-21). The Biblical concept of “wisdom” is “the application of God’s Word to our lives”. To be “wise” is to apply the truths of God to our daily living. This is true wisdom and flows from the gracious hand of our Lord.

Keeping all this in mind, let’s turn our attention to this is a very basic outline of this section of Scripture:

I. Applying God’s Word To Our Lives Universally (vs 15)
II. Applying God’s Word To Our Lives To Use Time Profitably (vs 16)
III. Applying God’s Word To Our Lives By Recognizing God’s Will For Us (vs 17)
IV. Applying God’s Word To Our Lives Through Self-Control (vs 18)
V. Applying God’s Word To Our Lives To Praise and Thank Him (vs 19-20)
VI. Applying God’s Word To Our Lives By Submission To Others (vs 21)

EXPOSITION:

To being this new section of our study, Paul reminds us of the need to use our time wisely…

(Eph 5:16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Following Paul’s encouragement to apply wisdom to every aspect of our daily walk, he now explains that by doing this we are using our time wisely in a God honoring way…

Redeeming the time,

What does Paul mean when he tells us to “redeem the time”? The idea of “redeem” comes from a word that means “to bring out of the marketplace”.

It is as if the time we have been given is on store shelves waiting to be taken. When we use our time wisely, we are taking it off the shelf and bringing it with us for our benefit and future use. The time that we waste is the time that we ignore, leaving it on the shelf never to be available to us again.

You might ask, “How can we have future benefit and use from the time we use wisely? Please keep in mind, the time we use wisely will accrue eternal rewards for us…
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

Those rewards will, in eternity, be laid at the feet of Christ in appreciation for His enabling grace and opportunity of service for Him…
“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11)

What a wonderful picture for each one of us. We all are given an allotted time on this earth (Job 14:1-5). Each second of that time is an opportunity to honor our Lord through our words and actions and accrue eternal blessings for us…
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:5-6)

“And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].” (Romans 13:11-14)

How much of our time will we use for His glory and our future blessings?

How much will we waste and lose for an eternity?

because the days are evil.

Paul reminds us of the need to redeem the time, because the days in which we are living can bring great harm to us. Folks, none of us know what is on the morrow (James 4:13-15). Sickness, trials, discouragements, and even death (Eccl 12:1) could be just around the corner.

We have such a great need to serve the Lord while we can, realizing that we could lose the privilege and opportunity to serve Him at any time.

APPLICATION:

Folks, why would we place first priority in living for the things of this world, knowing that these will shortly pass away…

“But this I say, brethren, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

It is far wiser, to place first priority in service to Christ, knowing that we will be eternally blessed for wise Godly living in every area of our lives…

May we all get a clearer picture of our Lord and Savior, and the great grace He has shown to us. Let us be always watchful to keep His great acts of grace on our behalf in the center of our attention… In doing so, may we be motivated to LOVE Him more, APPRECIATE Him more and SERVE Him more!

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