Ephesians 5:14-15

"Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light." Ephesians 5:14

It is interesting how the things God blesses us with find their way into reminders of our sinfulness. Water, used to nearly wipe mankind from the earth, Fire, nearly wiping mankind out again in the end... not to mention an eternal hell... and now sleep, in verse 14, also a blessing and gift from God, we are reminded of sleep as sin. There are many in the church today asleep, and Jesus is calling us to wake up, arise, be vigilant. Also, I find it interesting that He's not asked "us" to shine... Just to wake up and arise from the dead (sin)... and do what?... "that's all... just wake up, get up and avail ourselves to Christ", and "Christ shall shine upon us and give us light". He will reveal to us what it is we will do if we will just make ourselves available, open, willing, and ready!

15. "Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people)"

Paul does not say, Then, after you awake and arise, to look carefully... The way the verse is written is to say that because we have awakened and have arisen, that we can then look carefully how we walk. With our attention now to the Holy Spirit, and an awareness of the presence and power of Christ, we can "Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people)"

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 5:16 next time.

I love you.