Ephesians 5:13-20
“ Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
Walk in Wisdom
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
Historically this passage is usually used in context to focus on drinking. More often than not, it is used to oppose drinking completely… which is not correct at all. In fact, it is not even the main focus of the passage.
Paul is not even trying to give us a standard of what to do and what not to do but instead give a standard of spirituality in terms of our relationship with the creator.
He only uses wine to build his argument but it is only at the surface of what is really being said here. He is saying “do not be drunk with wine,” probably because of experience and understanding the consequences, but instead be “filled with the spirit.”
The point is that you need to walk in the life that God has created for you being guided by His Spirit; where you are drenched in his presences. Where you are consistently yearning for more.
Paul was telling us the solution to the entire moral dilemma of humanity.
To avoid complacency, blandness, destructive choices, to avoid hurting those you love through the good intentions you have that some how do not work because of were they get their fuel.
Paul was giving us the solution.
He was reminding us that we were created to live in an extraordinary transcendent relationship with the Creator of the universe, living in communion with the one who knows how the blood best flows through our veins.
We are in a constant struggle within. We know how good it feels when we succeed in our good deeds, bringing more sunshine into the world. At the same time, there is this pull within us that wants instant pleasure and it wages war on our other side.
Do not get drunk off wine. Do not put yourself in a place where you are going to wake up tomorrow and regret the night passed.
Instead, strive, with everything in you, to seek guidance from the Spirit, leading you to a place with unfailing success because you are walking in what you are created for.
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