← Return to Blog Home

Week 9: April 3-9

Seize Opportunities to Serve God

Ephesians 5:15-16

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Paul has been building up steam in the book of Ephesians - laying down foundational truths about our new life in Christ throughout the first three chapters of the book. At the beginning of chapter 4, he urges us to “walk in a manner worthy” of these truths he has laid out. Chapters 4-6 contain some of the most familiar and pointed realities about how we should act as a result of the internal change from the gospel.

In chapter 5, Paul commands us to be “imitators of God” and “walk in love” (vs. 1-2). He reminds us to be morally pure (vs. 3) and not let anyone deceive us with empty words (vs. 6). We come to a new thought in verse 15 where Paul tells us to “look carefully how we walk.” He is urging us to take an account of our life and how we act in light of our new life in the gospel. He tells us to do this in God’s wisdom! Now that we are a believer we should walk in God’s wisdom - not man’s.

In the same thought, Paul tells us to “make the best use of the time.” This is best translated in the NIV as “making the most of every opportunity.” This phrase has the sense of a businessman seizing a great business opportunity for huge profit! Paul is telling us to look carefully at our time and opportunities for the use of serving God. Many times we make the best use of time and opportunities for ourselves.

Paul’s last phrase states that “the days are evil.” This could be read “the times are evil” - referring to the Ephesian culture. This culture is not making it any easier for the readers of Paul’s letters to live this life Paul is outlining. We face the same struggles now. Nothing outside of the Word and the church are pushing us to this type of living.

These are the same opportunities and priorities we are praying for and seeking out as a church in 2016. Our Reach initiative is a direct application of this passage. We are taking account of our time and opportunities to share the gospel and serve God and others in this way. These goals will not be met without God’s help and God’s people making careful plans to accomplish them. Our culture is working against us in this endeavor. Will you and your family look at your daily life and see how you can best use your opportunities to serve God? 

Pray Together 

  1. Pray that God will help you to make the most of opportunities for the gospel.
  2. Pray that God will create an opportunity for a Gospel conversation this week!
  3. Pray that God will develop in us a culture of prayer and dependence on Him to do the work that we endeavor to do.

 

 

 

Posted by Rob Fipps with