Ephesians 5.15-21 (1)
Pray Psalm 53.1, 2.
The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none who does good.
God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
Sing Psalm 53.1, 2.
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God at all!”
Corrupt are they in whole and part, unjust and small.
Not one of them does good; God sees their wicked ways.
None understands the Word of God or gives Him praise.
Read Ephesians 5.15-21; meditate on verse 15.
How is Paul using “walk” here?
Preparation
1. How are we to “walk”?
2. What are we if we are not wise?
Meditation
Paul calls us to “walk circumspectly”. That word ἀκριβω̂ς, akribos, here translated “circumspectly”, is very interesting. Louw and Nida explain it as “pertaining to strict conformity to a norm or standard, involving both detail and completeness – accurate, accurately, strict, strictly.” If we would be wise, therefore, and walk like wise people, we must have a plan, adopt a standard, and pay attention to all the small stuff of our lives.
That sounds Biblical:
A plan: “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90.12).
A standard: “By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 Jn. 2.5, 6).
Attention to details: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10.31).
Is this how we walk? Well, it’s not how fools walk, that’s for sure. We must not think of “fools” as silly or ignorant or stupid people. Fools are those who say there is no God. They ignore, deny, or disbelieve in Him. So they make different plans, follow different standards, and attend to the details of their lives differently. We must be very careful, in all the moments of our lives, that foolishness does not find its way into our plan, standard, and details. We are to be living sacrifices to the Lord. And though our walk with Him can sometimes be a challenge, still we stay the course on the Jesus Path, paying careful attention to how we use our time, so that the wisdom of God can show through.
And Who is that Wisdom of God? What, it is Jesus Himself.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
We are warned, over and over in Scripture, never to stray from the Jesus Path.
“Blessed in the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful…” (Ps. 1.1)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Pet. 5.8, 9).
The Brothers Grimm told much the same story. When Little Red Riding Hood set out for her grandmother’s house, her mother said to her, “Go before it gets too hot, and remember to walk carefully. Don’t stray from the path.” After she began her journey, she met the wolf who tempted her to stray from the path. He said to her, “Look how pretty the flowers are here…why not pick some for your grandmother? And listen—don’t you hear how sweetly the birds are singing? You walk along so seriously, as if you were going to school, when the forest is alive with joy!” While she strayed from the path, the wolf went to the grandmother’s house and gobbled her up. And then upon her arrival he gobbled her up too. But along came a hunter, removed them from the wolf, and saved their lives. In thinking over her troubles, the little red-capped girl thought to herself, “From now on, I’ll never wander from the path again when Mother tells me not to.”
“And from that day forward, Little Red Riding Hood never strayed from the path, and she lived happily ever after.” From then on, she had learned to “Walk circumspectly” (Eph. 5.15).
We can each one, I’m sure, think of myriad ways we have strayed from the path. Even by looking around and paying attention, as the wolf recommended, to pretty flowers, hearing beautiful birdsong, and rejoicing in all creation. For within and amongst all creation is where sin occurs—it is always how we see and use the things and people that differentiates—the ongoing battle between and betwixt good and evil.
And One much more powerful than a parent, or guardian—God our heavenly Father—is telling us to walk carefully, and to not stray from the Jesus Path.
To be circumspect makes us heedful of our circumstances and the potential consequences within them. We must be prudent, wary, and cautious. “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished” (Prov. 22.3; 27.12).
See then that you walk circumspectly—look around, be cautious, mind how you go, be prudent, wary—trusting the Lord each step of the way. Wanting only to please Him.
If the Brothers Grimm expected their little red-capped creation to learn such a thing; then so can we!
“You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding,
which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
but he who trusts in the LORD,
mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice you righteous;
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Ps. 32.7-11)
Reflection
1. How can you know if you’re straying from the Path you’re supposed to be walking on? What should you do then?
2. What’s involved in keeping a close watch on your “walk”?
3. Do you need to review or improve the way your prepare for your daily walk?
People are very apt to complain of bad times; it were well if that stirred them more to redeem time. Be not unwise. Ignorance of our duty, and neglect of our souls, show the greatest folly. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ephesians 5.15
Pray Psalm 53.3-6.
Pray for those in your Personal Mission Field who do not know the Lord. Pray for an opportunity to share Jesus with someone today.
Sing Psalm 53.3-6.
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
Have all these wicked men no knowledge of God’s grace?
The Church they hate with passion and seek not God’s face.
LORD, strike their hearts with fear, where fear was not before.
And scatter all who camp so near Your holy door.
The wicked flee in shame; their ways our God rejects.
Renew Your people in Your Name with great effects!
Let great rejoicing sound once we renewed have been,
and let salvation’s Word resound from us again!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we conclude our study of the place of God’s Law in His Kingdom. Our Read Moore podcast continues working through The Gospel of the Kingdom, working to understand the true Gospel of the Lord. The Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing the life of Brigit, a contemporary of Brendan. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
