God Speaking

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”

(Psalm 133:1)

Our Home Group has just finished studying together, the letter to the Ephesians, and although the last chapter (Chapter 6) on the armour of God receives a lot of attention in articles and sermons, we all thought the most important chapter for us was Paul’s call to examine how we actually live out what we believe in our everyday day life, (Chapter 5). He presents it this way, what a challenge!

“Be very careful then, how you live – not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15 –16)

The book of Proverbs makes it very clear who the wise and the unwise are and frequently implores those who would be followers of the Lord to earnestly seek wisdom and not to be led astray by the foolishness of the world. We who know the Lord have an invaluable store of God’s wisdom ready and available for the asking whenever we need direction.

“Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” (Proverbs 2:9 – 10)

When we are listening to, or reading God’s word, it is so easy to be in complete agreement with every word, so easy on a Sunday morning to be filled with a desire to please our Heavenly Father, so easy in our Bible Study group to be with one accord with faithful believers, but the big question arises when we begin our daily routine, How do we live what we believe?

Paul begins within our own family and addresses relationships with husbands and wives, children and parents and his section on slaves and masters equates well with the modern work place. One sermon I listened to on this topic pointed out that we can slip into having two distinct personalities if we are not careful; our spiritual life we display when we are with Christians and the life we display to the world.

When I was a young school teacher it was imperative that before starting any lesson, a detailed plan as how I was going to present it, would be carefully thought out then written down in point form to keep me on track and help me not to be distracted from the task at hand. I have been thinking about this topic, of living what we believe, and thought we as followers of Jesus need a daily plan to tackle the day before we begin.

I found such a plan in Psalm 25 which I use as a daily prayer before starting the day. David knew that of course Our Heavenly Father would help us to be everything he wants us to be, so his prayer features these major ways that the Lord can help us; Showing us his way for the day, (not straying from his word), teaching us to stay on his path (not the world’s), guiding us in what is true (not being misled by those around us)

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:4 – 5)

When we are armed with that of sort of help every day, living what we believe becomes a whole lot easier.