Post by Daniel on Aug 6, 2015 7:07:28 GMT -5
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil
by Mike Ratliff
August 5, 2015
15 Βλέπετε οὖν ἀκριβῶς πῶς περιπατεῖτε μὴ ὡς ἄσοφοι ἀλλʼ ὡς σοφοί, 16 ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν. (Ephesians 5:15-16 NA28)
15 See therefore how carefully you walk not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 translated from the NA28 Greek text)
There is a great deal going on in the visible church, much of it having little to do with genuine Christianity, that most of us can do little about. Yes, we can pray, which is very powerful. We can also obey God and expose the evil to other believers. However, the older I get in the faith the outrage over much of what people like Rick Warren says or writes I no longer allow to consume me. I know what my role is in the Truth War do you what yours is? For most of us it is to obey what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church in Ephesians 5:1-21.
This passage is easily broken into two sections. The first section is made up of vv1-2 that is Paul’s exhortation to self-sacrificial love. The second section, vv3-20 is Paul’s instructions to the Church for Holy Living. I am convinced that trying to do the latter without former will only lead to a form of legalism so let us start with vv1-2.
1 Γίνεσθε οὖν μιμηταὶ τοῦ θεοῦ ὡς τέκνα ἀγαπητὰ 2 καὶ περιπατεῖτε ἐν ἀγάπῃ, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς καὶ παρέδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν προσφορὰν καὶ θυσίαν τῷ θεῷ εἰς ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας. (Ephesians 5:1-2 NA28)
1 Be therefore imitators of God as beloved children 2 and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave up Himself on behalf of us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 translated from the NA28 Greek text)
Yes, we are slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ if we are indeed in Him, but, if this true, then we are called to imitate God’s holiness in all our conduct as His beloved children. Our Lord’s supreme sacrifice on the Cross was on our behalf. He gave Himself up for us. Should we not reciprocate to this supreme act of love in obedience by imitating the holiness of God in our own lives?
continue reading
mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/redeeming-the-time-because-the-days-are-evil/
by Mike Ratliff
August 5, 2015
15 Βλέπετε οὖν ἀκριβῶς πῶς περιπατεῖτε μὴ ὡς ἄσοφοι ἀλλʼ ὡς σοφοί, 16 ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσιν. (Ephesians 5:15-16 NA28)
15 See therefore how carefully you walk not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 translated from the NA28 Greek text)
There is a great deal going on in the visible church, much of it having little to do with genuine Christianity, that most of us can do little about. Yes, we can pray, which is very powerful. We can also obey God and expose the evil to other believers. However, the older I get in the faith the outrage over much of what people like Rick Warren says or writes I no longer allow to consume me. I know what my role is in the Truth War do you what yours is? For most of us it is to obey what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church in Ephesians 5:1-21.
This passage is easily broken into two sections. The first section is made up of vv1-2 that is Paul’s exhortation to self-sacrificial love. The second section, vv3-20 is Paul’s instructions to the Church for Holy Living. I am convinced that trying to do the latter without former will only lead to a form of legalism so let us start with vv1-2.
1 Γίνεσθε οὖν μιμηταὶ τοῦ θεοῦ ὡς τέκνα ἀγαπητὰ 2 καὶ περιπατεῖτε ἐν ἀγάπῃ, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς καὶ παρέδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν προσφορὰν καὶ θυσίαν τῷ θεῷ εἰς ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας. (Ephesians 5:1-2 NA28)
1 Be therefore imitators of God as beloved children 2 and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave up Himself on behalf of us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 translated from the NA28 Greek text)
Yes, we are slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ if we are indeed in Him, but, if this true, then we are called to imitate God’s holiness in all our conduct as His beloved children. Our Lord’s supreme sacrifice on the Cross was on our behalf. He gave Himself up for us. Should we not reciprocate to this supreme act of love in obedience by imitating the holiness of God in our own lives?
continue reading
mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/redeeming-the-time-because-the-days-are-evil/