Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Ephesians 5:15-21.

 

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;  and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”  Ephesians 5:15-21.

 

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We may naturally feel unable both to “understand what the will of the Lord is” and to do it.  But, for one thing, we can remember the immediately preceding Scripture:  “walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord”.  Ephesians 5:8-9.  “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”  3 John 1:4  So, we can at least start with a strong commitment and passion to “walk in truth”.   

 

Today’s Scripture also provides a second thing that we can do which is “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord”.   

 

Putting these two things together, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  John 4:24  Obviously, these two things are not an exhaustive list, because today’s Scripture immediately follows these two things with two more things:  “giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;  and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”  

 

And, even these four things is not a complete list.  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17.

 

We look back to the beginning of today’s Scripture for further instruction.  “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”

 

 

Although we thus use our minds to try to “understand what the will of the Lord is”, we are not alone.  We do not need to depend on ourselves to understand and do the will of God.  We have the Helper, the Holy Spirit.  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  John 14:26  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine;  therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”  John 16:13-15.