Be Ready And Prepared

"Be Ready And Prepared"

Ephesians 5:15-20

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14KPlTehT30

As we approach this year’s vision of the change or transformation God desires to do in our lives, I talked about in January how we as God’s people are considered the Bride of Christ and the betrothal process that we go through as the bride betrothed to our bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

And there seems to be an overriding theme of our need to be prepared and ready for the return of Jesus Christ, our bridegroom. and that is what I would like to talk about with you.

Seeing how many people make New Year’s resolutions I thought about a New Years resolution that one dad made. His son asked, “Well dad, what’s your New Year’s resolution?” And his dad replied, “To make your mother as happy as I can.”

He then asked his mom the same question, to which she replied,“To make sure your dad keeps his resolution.”

There are a lot of people who can’t wait for a year end, and that’s because they thought the year would be different, where they would see a lot of their dreams and goals realized. But at the end they just wanted it to be over, and are reluctant to even think what this new year may or may not bring or be like.

But as I look back, all of us can say this about our past. Or as Solomon so aptly points out, that there is absolutely nothing that is new about this.

In Ecclesiastes 1:9, Solomon said, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”

Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes towards the end of his life. He was now an old man who had a great beginning when He sought the Lord, but, as he got older, he allowed his passions to rule over God’s word, and so he is writing from a state of despair and discouragement.

But I don’t think it has to be like this for us, because every year new and exciting things can take place in our lives all the way up to and including our deaths, and that's because there will be another new thing, that is, we’ll now be in the presence of the Lord God in heaven for all eternity. So I believe we can go from one good thing to another, even if bad and evil happens in our lives, but they will only turn out to our good when we seek God.

The Apostle Paul said, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV)

Notice he says that all things, that is, both the good and the bad and that God will work both out for His good when we place Him first and foremost in our lives.

It is with this in mind that we can have a better year when we follow God’s plan instead of our own. This is what led me to consider what Paul said in Ephesians 5:15-20.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:15-20 NIV)

From what it says here, there are three pieces of advice that we can take that will make this and every year the best year we could possibly have.

Be Careful

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV)

Being careful were two words I heard a lot growing up, and that’s because I found myself constantly getting in trouble, or I was about to do something really dumb that would have severe consequences, both to me and to others.

We also say this to others, but with other words like, “Be safe,” “Don’t rush,” and “Take your time, Rome wasn’t built in a day you know.”

But being careful is not just for our physical well being, it is also for our spiritual well being, and it’s something we need to learn as we approach this year to make it the best it can be.

This is what Paul is saying to the church in Ephesus as he gives three areas that they we're to be careful in.