Ephesians 5:15-16
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 NIV
Devotional
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…” Paul reminds us that how we live matters. Our lives are not random. Our time is a gift. Our conversations matter. Our choices matter. Our influence matters. Every day gives us opportunities to live differently because we belong to Jesus. Sometimes we think our greatest testimony is something we say. But one of the greatest testimonies we can give is how we live. When everyone else responds with anger, you respond with grace. When everyone else compromises, you remain faithful. When everyone else walks in darkness, you choose the light. When everyone else tears someone down, you build them up. When everyone else wastes their time, you recognize that your life belongs to God. That’s what it means to walk in wisdom. Being filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean escaping everyday life. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to change the way we live our everyday life. Your workplace becomes an opportunity. Your marriage becomes an opportunity. Your family becomes an opportunity. Your conversations become opportunities. Even difficult moments become opportunities to demonstrate what it looks like to belong to Jesus.
Read the Context
Ephesians 5 NIV
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Footnotes
Make it Personal
Where has God placed you right now that gives you an opportunity to represent Jesus?
Practical Application
Look for one opportunity today to intentionally show someone the love of Christ through your words or actions.
Talk to God
Lord, help me recognize the opportunities You give me today. Don’t let me waste the life You have given me. Holy Spirit, guide my words, my choices, and my reactions. Help me live wisely and represent Jesus well wherever I go. Amen.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…” Paul reminds us that how we live matters. Our lives are not random. Our time is a gift. Our conversations matter. Our choices matter. Our influence matters. Every day gives us opportunities to live differently because we belong to Jesus. Sometimes we think our greatest testimony is something we say. But one of the greatest testimonies we can give is how we live. When everyone else responds with anger, you respond with grace. When everyone else compromises, you remain faithful. When everyone else walks in darkness, you choose the light. When everyone else tears someone down, you build them up. When everyone else wastes their time, you recognize that your life belongs to God. That’s what it means to walk in wisdom. Being filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean escaping everyday life. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to change the way we live our everyday life. Your workplace becomes an opportunity. Your marriage becomes an opportunity. Your family becomes an opportunity. Your conversations become opportunities. Even difficult moments become opportunities to demonstrate what it looks like to belong to Jesus.
Read the Context
Ephesians 5 NIV
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 5:5 Or kingdom of the Messiah and God
- Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
- Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24
Make it Personal
Where has God placed you right now that gives you an opportunity to represent Jesus?
Practical Application
Look for one opportunity today to intentionally show someone the love of Christ through your words or actions.
Talk to God
Lord, help me recognize the opportunities You give me today. Don’t let me waste the life You have given me. Holy Spirit, guide my words, my choices, and my reactions. Help me live wisely and represent Jesus well wherever I go. Amen.
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