Verse of the Day 8/11

Verse of the Day 8/11

Ephesians 5:15-16

New King James Version

Walk in Wisdom

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

I read today's verse in my devotions this morning.  It is one of my favorites in the book of Ephesians.  Whenever I read it I think of it in the New King James Verssion above.  I especially like the word "circumspectly".  You don't often hear it used, but it gives the idea of having a 360 degree view of what is going on around you.  It has to do with awareness of not only the world around you but also your place in that world.

Former Watergate co-conspirator Chuck Colson later gave his life to Christ and started a jail ministry sharing the gospel in prisons.  His life perspective had been changed significantly and he owed it to faith in Christ.  He went on to write a book "How Now Shall We Live"  which explored the new relationship in Christ finding answers to life's questions such uas where did we come from, who are we, and what is wrong with this world?  He also focused on how we can go about fixing it in terms of living for Jesus.

A big part of that walk is walking according to His Word which means having His Word in front of us, in our hearts and minds and applying it in our lives.  The Jewish people in the Old Testament daily read the schema, Deut. 6:4-9:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

New King James Version

4 "Hear, O Israel: 

The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

We could do the same or perhaps a New Testament passage such as this passage in Luke 12:

Mark 12:28-34

New King James Version

The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, [a]perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the [b]first commandment of all?"

29 Jesus answered him, "The [c]first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' [d]This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

32 So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

But after that no one dared question Him.

The call is to be aware of where you stand in the world around you and to make a difference for Christ, redeeming the time.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Ephesians 5:15-20

New Living Translation

Living by the Spirit's Power

15 So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.