Go For It!  

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See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.  - Ephesians 5:15-21

 

There are three ways to live. The first is to do our will on our power. That’s humanism.  The second is to do our will on Christ’s power.  That’s religion.  The third is to do Christ's will with Christ's power. That's the abundant life.

 

Paul's five-word admonition "Be filled with the Spirit" spells out the secret to power. The Greek tense is in the continuous present imperative: "Go on being filled with the Spirit." Throughout the New Testament there are two uses of being filled with the Spirit. The first is initial at the time of conversion and the second is for the challenge and opportunities of ministry.

 

Christ creates in us a sense of emptiness, makes the good news of the gospel impellingly clear, engenders desire to receive forgiveness and a new life, gives us the gift of faith to receive Him as our Lord and Savior, takes up residence in us, and then gives us exactly the gift we need to launch out into the adventure of the abundant life. That's why we need "to go on being filled." Each new possibility or problem presents us with an opportunity to be given fresh power for the immediate situation, circumstance, or relationship.

 

Today each of us faces tasks which are beyond us. We wonder how we can take what will be thrown to or at us. Don't worry! The Lord never gives us more than He can handle. Our only concern is to find out what He guides and then to step out daringly, knowing that we will have the power we need. He will give us intellectual insight, the right words to say, and the will to do His will. We need not be afraid. Our confidence is not that the Lord has joined our team, but that we have joined His.

 

And He never runs out of strategy, strength, or surprises. Then, in the words of our altruistic motto, we can say to ourselves, "Go for it!"

 

 

The devotional message, “Go For It!”, was written by the late Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, and was taken from his book, “God’s Best For My Life”, Page 302.  Used with permission from Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR, www.harvesthousepublishers.com.  

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