#DailyDevotion So You’re Saved. Now What?

Eph. 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

I think it is always important to remember when we get towards the end of Paul’s letters the beginning of Paul’s letters. The end of Paul’s letters often contains lots of instruction, law and commandments even. So what do we need to remember? We have been saved by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus and not by any of our works from our former useless lives of darkness.

 

So these instructions are not what to in order to be saved but what do because we have been saved. We have been called to live a new life. So Paul warns us to be careful how we walk, that is live our lives. We are to make the most of our time doing good and not evil for the days are evil. The devil knows his time is cut short and he wants to drag as many of us with him into eternal torment.

 

Now Paul tells us to not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.  Now we know the will of the Lord is primarily to turn from our wicked ways and to trust him for our salvation.  Now instead of being drunk on wine we are to be filled with the Spirit that is let God’s word fill our lives so we may address one another with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs with all our heart. Thank God we have 2000 years of good hymn writers and music writers to do this well! Grab a Christian hymnal and make use of it. You can’t follow the music? God has given you the internet and Youtube to help you follow along.

 

He wants us to give thanks always and for everything. For nothing happens in your life that the Lord isn’t going to use for good. We have his promise of this in Romans 8. It will be difficult at first. You may want to first start giving thanks everyday in every way to express your thanks for the good things that happen to you during the day: waking up with a roof over your head, on a bed, with a pillow, clean running water and plumbing that works, food in the fridge and pantry, clothes to wear, electricity, family and friends and of course the Gospel. Then you can move on to the bad things that happen to you during the day. You know God is preparing you to bear the weight of eternal glory through these unpleasant and painful things.

 

Finally, he want us to submit to one another out of reverence to Christ. Put other people’s interest above your own. Don’t be selfish and self-centered. Think how Jesus submitted to being a servant, he who is the Creator of all that exist. He humbled himself to death, even death on a cross. You can submit to others as he submitted himself on behalf of you.

 

Gracious God and Father, you have saved us freely for the sake of your son Jesus Christ. Help us to walk now in your ways with your thoughts that all our ways may be pleasing to you and we may be of service to our fellow man to the glory of Jesus our savior. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.