Ephesians 5.15-20

15 "So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

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I love how Paul encourages us to make the most out of every opportunity in these evil days. Often times I'm tempted just to give up and await Jesus' return because I'm so fed-up with the way things are in this world and I don't want to bother trying to do stuff anymore. But here Paul encourages us to make the most of every opportunity. This gives me encouragement in that when I feel lazy or overwhelmed, I need to re-energize myself in Christ through His Spirit and press on. I also like how in verse 17, Paul says that we shouldn't just doing something without proper thought and planning. I'm reminded of Jesus' teaching illustration (illustrating the cost of being His disciple of all things.. how about that?!?! lol), about a builder avoiding ridicule by sitting down to calculate how much he needs to construct a tower/building (Luke 14.25-30). This verse has certainly weaved itself within every area of my theology and life, because I hardly will do anything without thinking it through, including all pros and cons. I also really like the fact that in verse 20, Paul says that we are to thank God the Father for EVERYTHING, thanking Him through/in the name of Jesus. We should be thanking God for EVERYTHING! Whenever I think about this, I start to realize just how grateful and thankful I should be as a Christians. After all, I have been redeemed and reconciled to the One True God! =) Another topic that I noticed in this last verse is something that I noticed back in college when one of my professors pointed it out. Concerning prayer, why do so many people pray and they direct their prayer to Jesus? I'm not going to be legalistic or start bashing anyone who's ever done this, but my professor did bring up a good point, in my opinion. Jesus outlined the way that we should pray by giving an example. In his example, He starts off by addressing God the Father. Here Paul mirrors this. We thank God the Father THROUGH/IN the name of Jesus. I'm not so sure God's not going to want to hear what you have to say if you pray differently, but I have to wonder if Jesus and the rest of the New Testament writers (they were inspired by God Himself, remember) wrote that we specifically pray to God the Father through/in Jesus name (He's our High Priest [Hebrews] therefore He intercedes on our behalf) it must be for a reason, right? Anyway, what sticks out in this section to you guys? =)

"Father, I pray that theses studies wouldn't just be for show. I earnestly pray that You would use these to change us and mold us into the people You want us to be more and more each day! I pray that we would never take any opportunity or day of our lives for granted, but that we would thank You for it and we would be purposeful about living our lives for You! God we love You so much, and it's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen!"