ESOCS Devotional 28 August 2023 – Maintain Good Works
MEMORY VERSE: ““See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.” Ephesians 5:15
TEXT: EPHESIANS 5:15-33 (KJV)
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Let us look at it this way in order to understand what the scripture is saying here. If we place a long pole over a 40 ft. deep pit with about 10 ft. space on either side of the pole, and try to walk over the pit, we would take extreme care in order not to slip off the pole and fall into the pit. The picture is quite frightening, isn’t it? The consequences could be terrible. However, the pit holes of the world are more dangerous and destructive than the one imagined here. They are the ones that lead to the fire of hell.
In our pilgrim’s journey on earth, there are deep pits on every side. Therefore, we should always walk as if there are thorns and broken bottles on our every side. We have to exercise enormous caution in the manner we live our lives. The lure of sin and the pleasures of this life are always there to make us slip. But we should focus on our Christian race. Let us be mindful of the pleasures and joy that await us in the kingdom of God. We should not look back to Egypt. There is nothing good there. Hebrews 11:13-16 tell us about the triumphant saints who once live on earth. They were very careful to ensure that they lived a saintly lifestyle. They were not interested in the things and pleasures of the world. They had one focus: God or nothing. That should be our attitude. If we think less of the things of this world, it would help us in a number of ways.
Like the triumphant saints, let us embrace the promise of heaven, a new earth, and the New Jerusalem wholeheartedly (Rev. 3:12; 21:1-2). Although they did not receive the promise of heaven while they were alive on earth, they believed God and saw nothing good about this wicked world. Therefore, they focused their minds and energy on their pilgrim’s journey to heaven. If they had attached any importance to this world and the sinful pleasures in it, they would not have been able to make heaven. They would have remained sinners. They would not have become saints today (Heb. 11:13-15). The scripture says, “But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them” (v 16 – NLT). Let us also live our lives in such a manner that our heavenly Father would not be ashamed to be called our God. We should not give the devil any reason or opportunity to mock our Him because of the way we live our lives.
We can achieve this goal by being careful to do only what is right at all times. The scripture advises us: “…those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men” (Titus 3:8). Let us remember this always.
- What would you do to partake in the new heaven and the new earth?
- Make a list of the wrong things you do and begin to take concrete steps to stop them.
- Pray for strength of the Holy Spirit to remain faithful in your Christian race.
- Pray the Holy Spirit to help you remain focused on the kingdom race.
FURTHER READING: Proverbs 1:20-end; Nahum 1:1-10; Luke 13:10-21; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14
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ESOCS Devotional 28 August 2023
