Reflection on Eph 5:17
“Therefore do not be unwise,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
For the next two weeks, during our seven prayer stops, we will reflect on and remember this Bible verse. The Apostle exhorts us: “Do not be unwise.” What does it mean to be unwise? It means to be unable to think self-critically or to see the objective truth, clinging blindly to one’s first impression. The Apostle then continues: “But understand what the will of God is” – in your life, today, in the situation you are living through. You are to live it with God, in faith.
Small acts of self-denial that humble our hidden pride and foolishness allow us to understand what God’s will is. Therefore, let us be self-critical and humble. Let us not take offence when someone points out our mistake or shows us that our decision may not be wise.
As Christians, we too have our own plans, desires, and ideas, and we often ask ourselves what God’s will truly is. Sometimes it may seem to you that God’s will is hidden in a buried treasure chest and you have only small portions of the map to find it. But is this true? Is God keeping His plans from you as some hidden secret? Or does He want you to follow Him, and lead you step by step?
If you have not yet memorized Proverbs 3:5-6, learn it now – and do not read any further until you do. These verses can clear up misconceptions about knowing God’s will. Reflect on them carefully!
THE REVEALED WILL OF GOD
- What should be one of your desires as a follower of Christ? Eph 5:17
- What does God promise you concerning His will for your life? Psa 32:8
- What does God reveal about His will for you in the following verses?
1Thess 4:3
1Thess 5:18
1Pet 2:15
- What was the psalmist’s attitude toward God’s will in Psalm 40:8?
What helped him produce this attitude?
- Who is your source of strength to do God’s will?
Phil 2:13
Jn 15:5
The will of God is not like a magic package let down from heaven by a string… The will of God is far more like a scroll that unrolls every day… The will of God is something to be discerned and to be lived out every day of our lives. It is not something to be grasped as a package once for all. Our call, therefore, is basically not to follow a plan or a blueprint, or to go to a place or take up a work, but rather to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Scripture, we have all the guidance we need in order to live for Jesus Christ. Yet we often face decisions on issues which the Scriptures do not provide specific instructions for. In these cases, a Christian should apply the principles of decision-making which are contained in Scripture.
Download: Reflection on Eph 5:17
