Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT) So be careful how 
you live. Dont live like fools, but like 
those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every 
opportunity in these evil days. 17 Dont act 
thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to 
do.  

COMMENTARY PEARL

   There never was a dull day for the 
first-century followers of Jesus. In fact, it seems that 
wherever Paul went, there was either a conversion or 
a riot. 
   The early church didnt have modern 
technology at their disposal. Yet in a relatively short 
time, these believers changed their world. They 
permeated their culture. 
   Tertullian, a Christian leader and a 
contemporary of these early followers of Christ, said of 
the church, We are but of yesterday, and we 
have filled every place among you"cities, 
islands, fortresses, towns, marketplaces, the very 
camp, tribes, companies, palace, senate, 
forum"we have left nothing to you but the temples of 
your gods. 
   He was pointing to the fact that the 
church had infiltrated everything. There were even 
Christians in the palace of Caesar. This is what we 
need today. We need Christians to go out and make 
a difference. We need Christians involved in 
the arts, making great films and creating 
graphic design. We need Christians in places of 
authority, because the Bible says that when the 
righteous rule, the people rejoice (see Proverbs 
29:2). 
   We need Christian doctors, lawyers, and 
businesspeople. We need believers to let their light shine 
in this culture today. 
   Religious leaders in Thessalonica had 
this to say about Paul and Silas: These who 
have turned the world upside down have come here 
too (Acts 17:6 NKJV). 
   G. Campbell Morgan said, Organized 
Christianity which fails to make a disturbance is 
dead. 
   Believers in the first century made a 
disturbance because they understood that God had called 
them to do their part. They took risks. They left 
their comfort zones. In the Book of Acts, we see 
their fearless preaching, their expectant prayer, 
and their willingness to obey God. 
   Twenty-first-century believers should be 
living like these first-century believers, 
impacting our culture. We should be making a 
difference. We should be turning our world upside down. 
[Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

COMMENTARY 

   Our time belongs to God. Every moment is 
His, and we are under the most solemn obligation 
to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has 
given will He require a more strict account than 
of our time. 
   The value of time is beyond computation. 
Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is 
thus that we should regard it. Life is too short 
to be trifled away. We have but a few days of 
probation in which to prepare for eternity. We have no 
time to waste, no time to devote to selfish 
pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin. It is now 
that we are to form characters for the future, 
immortal life. It is now that we are to prepare for 
the searching judgment. 
   The human family have scarcely begun to 
live when they begin to die. The man who 
appreciates time as his working day will fit himself for 
a mansion and for a life that is immortal. It 
is well that he was born. We are admonished to 
redeem the time. But time squandered can never be 
recovered. We cannot call back even one moment. The 
only way in which we can redeem our time is by 
making the most of that which remains, by being 
co-workers with God in His great plan of 
redemption. 
   Every moment is freighted with eternal 
consequences. We are to stand as minute men, ready for 
service at a moments notice. The opportunity that 
is now ours to speak to some needy soul the 
word of life may never offer again. God may say 
to that one, This night thy soul shall be 
required of thee, and through our neglect he may 
not be ready. (Luke 12:20.) In the great 
judgment day, how shall we render our account to God? 
FLB158, COL342-343 

CLOSING THOUGHT

Redeeming the Time
   These days we are bombarded with 
opportunities that entice us to invest our time and 
energy. Each day the voices of urgency cry out for 
every available moment. So many causes promise 
that time spent on them will reap great rewards; 
how can we recognize Gods voice among so many 
competing voices?  
   A fool makes unwise choices with his 
time. With every new opportunity that comes along, 
the fool chases off in a different direction, 
not questioning whether that is the best choice. 
The loudest voice gains his attention. At some 
point the fool discovers to his dismay that he has 
squandered the investment of his time.  
   The days in which you live are evil. 
Marriages are under tremendous pressure, families are 
disintegrating. Multitudes are dying each year without 
hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Investing your 
life wisely is critical to you and to those 
around you. Foolishly spending your time in sinful 
or wasteful pursuits can cost you and others 
dearly.  
   Often, it is not evil pursuits that rob 
your time. Rather, the temptation is to sacrifice 
what is best for what is good. The enemy knows 
that blatantly tempting you with evil will be 
obvious, so he will lure you with distractions, 
leaving you no time to carry out Gods will. He 
will tempt you to so fill your schedule with good 
things that you have no time for Gods best. You 
may inadvertently substitute religious activity 
for Gods will, pursuing your own goals for 
Gods kingdom instead of waiting for His 
assignment. Time is a precious commodity. Be sure to 
invest it wisely. [Experiencing God Day by Day by 
Henry and Richard Blackaby] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

Ephesians 5:15-17 - Be Careful How You Live.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211123-0943.html 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210226-1001.html 

Psalm 90:12 - Time a Precious Gift.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210828-1045.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/