8/6/25 Daily Devotion: Do Not Be Foolish

Ephesians 5:15-21 ESV - Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

I believe that reading Ephesians 5:18 can be a pretty good litmus test for our personal & corporate struggles with Legalism & a “need” to earn God’s Grace...

• If we read this verse and our big takeaway is to ban alcohol from a Christian’s “approved To-Do list” then I believe we have ENTIRELY MISSED THE POINT!

• We should read this verse and say ... “I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit ... HOW do I do that?!?! Let me dedicate my today to being FILLED WITH HIM!”

• Thankfully, Paul gives us the recipe for a Spirit-Filled life in verses 19 & 20!

WORSHIP

• Let your Worship be TO THE LORD, not focused on your self. (Sometimes difficult in modern worship music.)

• Share your Worship with others!

• True Worship comes from YOUR HEART and is led by His Spirit.

THANKSGIVING

• Gratitude TO GOD … ALWAYS … for EVERYTHING!

• True Thanksgiving comes from a GRATEFUL HEART and is led by His Spirit … no matter your circumstance!

SERVICE

• The Spirit of God will lead you to SERVE OTHERS. Full stop.

• If you aren’t serving, you are not filled with His Spirit!

As a Church/Religion (or even just a religious individual) it is easy to come up with a list of prohibited activities that we can then focus our energy on avoiding ... GIVING THE IMPRESSION OF PURITY (in reality, we usually don’t so much avoid as HIDE our failings to continue the masquerade)

• All the while, God desires our focus to be on Him, His Glory & His Grace … allowing Him to FILL US WITH THE FULLNESS OF GOD!!

That said, there is no better description of drunkenness than the word DEBAUCHERY!!!

• Living a wise life will definitely avoid participating in this debauchery!

• Bottle of wine with the wife? An occasional pour of bourbon in the evening? Definitely not OUTLAWED.

• To me, it’s not the consumption that is sin but what actions/depravity that over-consumption could lead to that creates problems.

• And like all matters of life … God is primarily concerned with the motives of your heart! Is that drink being poured as a substitute for something that God calls us to go to Him for?

So ... as the verses say, be wise. Don’t be foolish. Understand His Will by allowing Him to FILL YOU through WORSHIP, THANKSGIVING & SERVICE!