Opening Prayer
Lord, let Your Word waken us and grant us wisdom and gentleness in all our life. Amen.
Text: Ephesians 5:15-21
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Devotion
The sky gets darker and the path more dangerous. Deep pitfalls await on either side and hidden snares at every step. Unbelief and false doctrine, worldliness and apathy, pride and division tempt us more powerfully than ever: “The days are evil.” It says: “Walk circumspectly!” Don’t let yourself be enticed here and there! Stay on the narrow path of humility and self-denial. Be ever lower in your own eyes. Believe in Christ, have your heart filled with His love, and your life filled with His deeds! “Redeem the time.” Don’t neglect anything that can be of service to your soul’s salvation, seize the precious hours of grace and use them so that you have fruit from them!
To walk circumspectly and wisely our Epistle recommends four things. First: “Do not be drunk with wine… but be filled with the Spirit.” Nabal, Elah, and Ben-Hadad8 have plenty of brothers in gluttony and drunkenness among the children of the world, but you who fear God must flee such excesses. Enjoy God’s gifts in such a way that you are always fit also for devotion and prayer. Never drunk with wine, but more and more happy, confident, fresh, and eager, more and more filled by the Spirit (Act 2:4.15ff.)! If you have begun to taste God’s love, then watch and pray and do good. Drink from the stream of His gladness, from the fountain of life in His Word and Sacraments (Psa 36:9-10).
Second: “Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord,” and if you have the gift of singing, then let others enjoy it also. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing” (Jam 5:13)! It is so natural for you, so do it! All of Israel was a singing people, so shouldn’t the new Israel be much more so? God has given our Lutheran Church a rich treasure of wonderful hymns. Learn them, and sing them while you work and in your home. Be diligent to connect yourself with fellow believers, so that their fire kindles you and yours kindles them. Embers spread apart go out, but together they blaze.
Third: “Give thanks always for all things to God.” Your heavenly Father gives you pure goodness out of pure grace, – nothing, nothing for which we do not owe Him thanks. Everything is included in the name of Jesus Christ: for the sake of His blood you receive it, and everything that happens for you happens to accomplish His saving work. So present your thanksgiving in “all things.” Return everything to God with humble thanks. Here again is the encouragement: “Now do it!”
Fourthly and finally: “Submit to one another in the fear of God.” Let God’s holiness, greatness, and mercy shine so brightly, that you really become poor in your own eyes and look up to others with reverence! “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you – all of you – be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility” (1Pe 5:5). – Whoever does these things walks carefully, among the wise who understand what the Lord’s will is.
Closing Prayer
God, give us grace for this according to Your promise in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn
God’s peace and joy be reigning,
Each day new strength be gaining
In ev’ry heart today,
You are, by gracious favor,
One Body with your Savior,
So praise your God for aye!
God’s Word now lives within you,
His Spirit too now fills you
With wisdom and with light,
That you with all your living
May praise Him with thanksgiving,
To fill His heaven bright!
All that you would be doing
And would with faith be showing
The gifts your soul is giv’n,
With fervent pray’rs to heaven
May all your cares be given
In Jesus’ holy name.
Kingo: I Kristne, I som træde L 234:6-8 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Udi din store Vrede (Jensen’s Koralbog); alternate hymn: O God, Thou faithful God ELH 470:1