The Walk of Wisdom

(#895, Imperial, 1960)

Read Ephesians 5:15-21.

Gustav Dore the famous artist lost his passport while traveling in Europe.  He was at a certain boundary and the officer asked him for the passport.  Dore fumbled about and finally announced, "I have lost my passport, but it is all right.  I am Dore the artist, please let me go in."  The officer replied, "Oh no, we have plenty of people representing themselves as this or that great person.  Here is a pencil and paper.  If you are Dore the artist, prove it by drawing me a picture."  He drew some pictures.  "Now," the officer said, "I know that you are Dore the artist, for no one can draw like that."  He was then allowed to enter the country.

4 people were discussing Bible translations.  One person said, "I like my mother's translation best.  She translated it into life and it was the most convincing translation I ever saw."

The Christian's conduct offers the most powerful testimony that we can give.  Consider that conduct:

ƒ      In relation to the outside world, vs. 15-16.

w    Walk circumspectly.  This means to walk carefully, noting the small details.  It means to walk wisely, not as fools.  It is the walk of Enoch who "walked with God".

w    Redeeming the time.  Time is of high value, a gift of God, and unrecoverable.  Since the days are evil we must guard against frivolous waste of thoughts, sacrifice and effort.

ƒ      In relation to himself, vs. 17-18.

w    Know and understand the will of God.  God's will (what God wants in a given situation) can be know by the believer.  Knowing it he must then yield to that will.

w    Be filled with the Spirit.  Our outward walk is governed by the Spirit.  As He fills us He produces His fruit and power.

ƒ      In relation to other believers, vs. 19-21.

w    Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs.  This has to do with building each other up in the fellowship.

w    Giving thanks.  Always.  For all things.

w    Submitting to one another.  This involves the meekness and humility of Eph. 4:1-3 and produces unity in the body.  It is to be done in the "fear of Christ" or out of reverence for Christ.

You say you are a Christian; does your life prove it?

Children of Light

(#894, Imperial, 1960)

Read Ephesians 5:3-14.

This passage deals with the sins of impurity, a warning appropriate for these last days (Luke 7:26-30).  Note the terms:

w    Fornication is immorality.

w    Uncleanness is moral impurity.

w    Covetousness is inordinate desire, lust.

w    Foolish talking and jesting is suggestive or immoral humor.

These things should not be part of the Christian's lifestyle.  They do not "become" saints.  Rather thanksgiving becomes the saints.  With this in mind the text deals with the attitude and conduct of the children of light in a world of darkness.

ƒ      We are light, vs. 8-9.

We are light "in the Lord" and only in Him.  The only light the world has is in the Christian.  So we must walk as children of light and not in the former darkness.

ƒ      Prove what is acceptable to the Lord, v10.

Not only are we to refrain from that which displeases but we are to search out diligently what pleases Him.  What is acceptable to God?

    1.  Rom. 12:1: our bodies as a living sacrifice.

    2.  Rom. 14:18: our service for Christ.

    3.  Phil. 4:18: our gifts and offerings.

    4.  1 Tim. 2:3: our prayers for rulers.

    5.  1 Peter 2:20: our patient suffering.

ƒ      Have no fellowship with darkness, v11.

In contrast to the fruit of light the works of darkness are unfruitful.  They produce no joy, no satisfaction, no goodness.  Separation has always been the order for God's people.

ƒ      Reprove the works of darkness, v11.

Not only do we withdraw from sin; we take a positive stand against it.  How?  By the light of the truth (v13).  Light is the obvious and only reproof for darkness.

ƒ      Do not speak of the works of darkness, v12.

Publicity is not the remedy for evil.  To talk about other's immoral deeds helps no one.  These things ought not once be named among the saints (v3).

You are of the day, not of the night.  So let us not sleep but be on the alert. (1 Thess. 5:5-6)

Psalm 63

Psalm 62 began saying, “My soul silently waits for God.”  Psalm 63 begins, “My soul thirsts for You.”  This is truly the issue of our existence on earth.  The chief difficulty with men is that their souls are troubled.  The rich man is no longer satisfied with his money; the strong man is no longer satisfied with his strength; the proud man is no longer satisfied with his position or popularity; the immoral man is no longer satisfied with his latest experience.  We are in a constant state of lust.  What we have or are is never enough for very long.

Sadly, we are deceived.  We do not see that the problem is in the soul, and that the only satisfaction is in God!  Our soul thirsts for God!  

Why do we not see this?  Perhaps because we refuse to allow ourselves to remain long enough in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.  We refuse to allow ourselves to dwell in a needy situation.  We turn up the volume of the insignificant so that we won’t have to think or meditate on our thirst.  We mask the pain in our soul with medication or by ignoring the difficult relationship or moving to another town or resigning or running or immersing ourselves in technology or whatever so-called addictions we have chosen.

To make sense of this Song, and to make sense of life itself, just keep your eye on David’s soul. 

·        His soul was thirsty (v1).  So he looked for God in the sanctuary, in the place where God would be found in truth, in His power and glory.  For us, we search for God in His word; and we find Him there IN CHRIST JESUS. 

·        He believed his soul would be satisfied (v5).  The reason he believed this was because when he searched for God he found Him to be more satisfying than life itself (v3). 

·        His soul follows close behind God (v8).  Now, even in the middle of the night while awake on his bed, his thoughts are on God.  He rejoices because his thirsty soul has found the fountain of living waters.

This world is filled with thirsty souls.  That is undeniable.  Do you, do we understand, that our thirsty souls are thirsty for God.  He made us to desire Him.  Will we quit trying to satisfy our thirst with the offerings of a dry and thirsty land?  Let us look for Him in the sanctuary.  

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and my burden is light (words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30).