In or Out Week 3 Wednesday

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Ephesians 5:15-16

We have all heard the phrase, “actions speak louder than words.” It’s true that our actions either prove or disprove our words. But, our actions also prove what is most valuable and important to us. You see, even more than our words, our actions show what we value most. Our calendar and wallets give people a bird’s-eye view of our priorities. This includes our relationship with Christ. The way we live, spend our time and money, and the things we devote our time and energy to show whether we value Christ the most or the things of this world.

Paul reminded people of the importance of living intentionally in Ephesians 5. In this chapter, he wrote, “so be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (verses 15-16). He then continued to give examples of ways to make the most of our days, including acting thoughtfully, being filled with the Holy Spirit instead of being drunk with wine, singing songs to God, and thanking Him for all He has done (verses 17-20). In other words, we are to live intentionally, living for the things that truly matter.

As we think about Paul’s call to live intentionally in Ephesians 5, we have to ask ourselves, “What is most important to us?” What matters most to us? I think most of us would say that God and His kingdom are most important. The question is, are we living like He is most important? Are our actions pointing to Him? If not, there is always room to grow. We can begin today taking steps to live intentionally for God, ensuring that we make the most of our short time on this earth.

Moving Toward Action

Pause for a moment to have an honest evaluation. What does your calendar, wallet, and how you live your life show that you value the most? If you find that your actions show you that maybe your priorities have fallen out of alignment, now is the perfect time to make changes and re-order some priorities to make room for what matters most: knowing Christ and making Him known. Make the adjustments you would like to make so that your actions prove your desire to grow in your faith and your relationship with Christ.

Going Deeper

Ephesians 5:15-20 (NLT)