The Lutheran Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 12 August 2015 "God Pause Daily Devotion" Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

The Lutheran Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 12 August 2015 "God Pause Daily Devotion" Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Ephesians 5:15 Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. 16 Use your time well, for these are evil days. 17 So don’t be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.

18 Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit — 19 sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; 20 always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.[Complete Jewish Bible}

We've heard it said a million times before: life is short. But how do we move from just being aware of the brevity of life into a true understanding of the value of the days God has given to us? This letter to the Ephesians has some important advice for us: give thanks to God at all times and for everything in the name of Jesus. The writer admonishes us as Christians to seek the wisdom of God with joy and gratitude and not to waste our time with foolishness. Well, that's easier said than done!
But this passage reminds us that we live only because Jesus gave his life for us on the cross. So in a sense as Christians we know we are living on "borrowed time." As people who have been given a second chance, we are called to make the most of such a precious gift.
God of wisdom, you care about how we spend the time that you have given to us. Help us to put our lives to good use in service to your will for the world. And in the times we don't, help us to trust that your grace in Christ Jesus is real and that we always have a second chance. In your Son's name we pray, Amen.
Sarah Sumner-Eisenbraun
Associate and Campus Pastor, Salem Lutheran Church and School, Glendale, Calif.
Master of Divinity , 2007
Ephesians 5:15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise,
16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,
20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[New Revised Standard Version]
____________________________