by Dona Hake
Yesterday I had shared with you about guarding your time and using it wisely for our days are short, and every minute needs to be used with wisdom. I had shared from Ephesians yesterday and I want to share this scripture again.
Ephesians 5:15-17
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
“Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.”
Paul was exhorting in this portion of scripture that one needs to watch their walk in the Lord carefully. He proceeds to say we should live purposefully, worthily and accurately. As we seek God for His wisdom we will do all that we do in word or in deed as onto Him, and it will be pleasing. Our walk before Him will be in purpose, worth, and accuracy. When I look at the translation here using the word ~accuracy~ it makes me think of the importance of knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are doing exactly what the Lord wants you to do. Verse 17 states that we should firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. One of the definitions that I found for the word ~grasp~ is to seize upon and hold firmly. The enemy to us taking hold of the will of God in our life is being indecisive and double minded. May we be ever so cautious and watchful over our faith being hindered by falling into being double minded.
James 1:5-8 Amplified Bible, Classic Editiona
” If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.
Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.
For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,
[For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].
Lord, we ask You this day to help us take hold of Your will like never before. We know that it is Your heart that we live to totally please You as we walk upright before You, and we ask that You help us to do so. We thank You for the wisdom that You have promised to give to us that we may lay hold of Your will and seize the opportunities that You have for us. Again, we are reminded to watch over our time and use it wisely, and we thank You for Your guidance in that as well.
