Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
What a way to begin 2025, with someone driving a truck on Bourbon Street in New Orleans that killed fifteen people and injured more than 30 and someone else blowing the truck up they were driving in Las Vegas. For everyone who is aware of these tragedies, today’s verse brings on entire new meaning.
As much as we want people to change their behavior because, well, it’s just not right, that rarely happens. It’s difficult to stop acting out in evil ways just by behavior modification. Why? Because we don’t need to be just changed, we need to be transformed! And transformation only comes through a relationship with Jesus, by receiving His Spirit to reconcile us back to God.
Whether we want to believe it or not, all of us have a sphere of influence on others. Micah 6:8 sets the foundation of how God has shown us to live, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him. John 13:34-35 reminds us to love others as He has loved us and Matthew 7:12 tells us to treat others as we would want them to treat us. These are impossible to achieve without the transforming power of Jesus in our lives. We need to show people what God can do when we surrender our lives to Him, so they will want what we have. And in turn, lives won’t be changed, but transformed, which in turn will transform our society, or as Paul said, “where sin abounds, grace abounds even more!” Because grace is the only thing that is greater than sin that is so rampant in these evil days.
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