Ephesians 5.15-17
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Scripture uses the word “walk” to refer to the way we live and do our work every day. It is a very appropriate word to describe what God calls us to. Life in Christ is a journey. It is a great adventure. And like any great adventure, it has twists and turns, ups and downs, easy times and hard times. There are enemies to be defeated, obstacles to be overcome, dragons to be slain, mysteries to be solved, friends and family to be rescued, and treasure to be found.
Consider these places in Ephesians where Paul uses the word “walk.”
In 2:10 Paul says we are God’s workmanship, and the Lord has specifically and personally created us for the purpose of walking in the good works that he has prepared for us. God created us for this journey.
In 4:1 Paul tells us to walk in a way that is worthy. This is the standard (axios) for the Christian walk, the standard for how we should live and work. God has called us to a life that is in alignment with his character and kingdom. There is a code we should live by as we pursue this great adventure.
In 4:17 Paul warns us: do not walk in the way of the world. On the journey there are paths we should not follow. Therefore, the Lord instructs us to stay far away from the deceptions, distortions, and distractions of the world.
In 5:2 Paul tells us to walk in love. We should be people of visible and tangible love that makes a difference. Our life and our work should be guided by a deep commitment to the best interest of others. There are other people on the journey, and there are other people who are looking to find their way. They need our love and support for their own adventure with Christ.
In 5:8 Paul tells us to walk in light. Our life and work should be guided by a deep commitment to the truth of God’s Word. In the midst of the darkness of a fallen world, the way we live should shine with the truth of God’s kingdom. We are to be light in a world of darkness. On this great adventure, we will have to fight battles. There are enemies who will attack us. The forces of darkness will oppose us along the way. The light of God’s truth is our great weapon.
In 5:15 Paul tells us to walk carefully and wisely. We are to exercise great wisdom and situational awareness as we journey through our time in history. We will be confronted with difficult people and challenging circumstances. We will face problems and mysteries that need to get solved. There will be obstacles to overcome. That is the reality of life in a fallen world.
The picture that Paul paints is clear. Life in Christ is a walk … it is a journey. Let us embrace the journey and walk the path that the Lord has laid before us. And let us invite others—and help others—on the great adventure.
This is one of those passages in scripture that is very brief, very clear, and very powerful. There is much to learn here, so we will dig deeply into this passage throughout the week.
