The Daily Dose

Be Filled Up

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (waste); but be filled with the Spirit,”  Ephesians 5:18

This passage is an admonition for these latter days for all of God’s people.  It talks about being alert in your walk of life and recognizing the traps of the enemy, to not fall into them.  It speaks of being wise and not foolish with our time because we live in evil days.  It goes on to say we should understand what the will of the LORD is for our lives.  Lastly this scripture talks about being filled up with the Spirit of God and not with the distracting pleasures of the world.

It is appropriate to reason then that being filled with the Sprit is the way to stay close to God, also the way to accomplish this list.  Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder how to be filled with His Spirit.  The passage clearly lists the things we can do to fill our lives and hearts up with the Spirit of God. 

Number one is to speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Instead of speaking the things we see in the natural world, start talking to others about heavenly things.  This will make it evident that your mind is set on the things above and not the things in the earth. (Colossians 3:2).

The second thing is to sing and make melody in your heart to the LORD.  This is all about encouraging yourself when you are alone and have time to let your imagination run away with you.  Instead direct your thoughts to sing, praise and worship the LORD. 

Thirdly, always be thankful.  It’s no secret that we live in a day of the entitled mentality, but the fact is that we are to be thankful in everything because without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).  Cultivate a thankful heart by spending a few minutes each day thanking God for all His wonderful works and love! 

Lastly, walk in humility by submitting to one another in the fear of God.  Probably the most difficult thing to do in this list is to submit to others.  Our culture is one that constantly desires to be “right” and that everyone around should know it.  However, submitting to one another is the best way to show the love of God to others.  It speaks loudly that those around you are more important than your pride of being “right.”

Today I encourage you to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God!  Speak out in spiritual songs of praise, make melody in your heart, be thankful and submit to each other.  In doing these things you will be outwardly exhibiting the fruit that comes by walking in the Spirit not the flesh.  Those around you will recognize the Spirit of God in you and these acts will speak volumes to those you encounter each day.  The greatest ways to be an effective witness for God is by displaying His fruit.

Today’s scripture reading:  Ephesians 5:15-21

 Redeem your time

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15 & 16

For years I had heard that God would redeem time as we give it to Him, but only recently, did I actually look these passages up for myself to see what they were all about.  The two verses I found on redeeming time were Colossians 4:5 that says (you) walk in wisdom, redeeming the time.  The second was today’s verse in Ephesians 5:15. Both of these scriptures place the responsibility of redeeming (means to recover or buy back) my time in my own hands. 

I do find this encouraging however, because having been a person who wasted a lot of time in my life, I now have the opportunity to redeem it by walking in God’s wisdom.  I believe that time is one of our most valuable assets we possess.  It is priceless.  We cannot buy or make more, and our only guarantee is what we have right now.  However, God has given us some hints on how to live our life to the fullest, even if we have wasted much time in the past. He shows us one of the ways right here in Ephesians;  It says to walk circumspectly (watchful and discreet) and don’t be foolish but walk in the wisdom of God.  This scripture ends with “because the days are evil”. 

We are living in dark days for sure.  Yet it is still within your power to live them to the fullest.  By committing each day to live for your Heavenly Father, you are taking your first step to making the most of your time here in this world.  Be watchful of all your thoughts, attitudes and words and commit to only thinking and speaking what pleases Him.   Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  According to this verse it is our thoughts and attitudes that come out of our mouth that will determine how we live out each day!

Today I want to encourage you to redeem your time by walking and speaking the wisdom of God.  Also, search out God’s Word for all the direction He has given to live out the purpose He has for you.  Pray these scriptures over yourself and your family. Then be thankful for all God is leading you too. Make all your days here on earth count for eternity. The days that have already been lost to foolishness, buy them back by walking out the rest of them in discretion and pureness, not foolishly, but in the wisdom of God.  Redeeming the time because we live in evil days.

Today’s scripture reading:   Ephesians 5:14-21

Don’t take part

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them. Ephesians 5:6 & 7

So this is interesting.  Verses 3 and 4 of this chapter talk about ways to not be an imitator of God.  These are “ways” or actions of the world.  Yes, I think we all can agree that fornication,  uncleanness, covetousness and filthiness are against God and imitate His enemy.  But what about the next two in this list? Foolish taking?  Coarse jesting? (coarse being crude or rude jokes)  Don’t forget the empty words mentioned in verse 6.  Yikes, and these result in the wrath of God on your life.  Oh, you may not see it instantly, but it is coming.   These are some harsh consequences and goes without saying that these actions are not fitting for the children of God.(verse 3)

Today’s verse actually says do not get involve in these activities and words.  So how do you avoid them?  Let’s face it, we are living in a world that is cruder, ruder and more unclean than ever before in history, If you work in a worldly environment, you are subjected to these behaviors continuously.  So how do you stay untouched by them and how do you keep them from getting all over you?  First of all, this passage says do not be a partaker with them. Simply put, don’t take part in these things.  Set yourself a standard and make a plan and stick to it.  Don’t get involved in this activity.  If you are in a conversation and it is taking a turn toward filth, walk away.  Don’t even let the words fall on your ears.  They will echo in your head until you notice they are on the tip of your tongue slipping out of your mouth.  Think of this list as deadly poison that will produce a slow, painful and destructive death and run away from these things like they are a plague, because they are.

Today I want to encourage you to be an imitator of your loving Heavenly Father, not the enemy of your soul.  Recognize that he (your enemy) wants to destroy you and anything good in your life.  Don’t fall into the traps he is setting for you daily.  Instead, focus on and decide that you are going to live above the filth of the world.  Not in a haughty and prideful way, but with a humble and loving attitude that draws the lost ones to you.  Let your life and your example be one that imitates God like the dear child you are.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 5:6-13

Your life’s pattern

Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. Ephesians 5:1

Who do you pattern your life after?  Chances are if you are like most people, you imitate others who have influenced your life the most, either intentionally or unknowingly.  Maybe it’s one of your parents, or a close relative.  Maybe it is a respected leader or mentor.  Maybe its your favorite actor or tv personality.  Whatever the case is, most of us are acting like someone we have seen and heard at some point in our lifetime.

Today’s text gives us the ultimate example to follow.  It says to imitate or act like God does.  What?  Is that even possible? God has given each of us gifts and abilities to do His work while we are here in this world.  These gifts and abilities actually come directly from Him and are abilities that He, Himself possesses (on a much grander scale of course).  In discovering our God-given gifts and talents and then using them for kingdom progress, we are in effect imitating God.  Just as a child looks at their parent to copy their behavior, we can look at God and His Word to see how we should be behaving.  The commands and direction God gives us in His Word are not given so that He can control our behavior.  He gives us these instructions because it is the way He lives and exists.  He is showing us the way to imitate Him by the directives He gave in His Word.

Verse two of this chapter goes on to tell us when we imitate God as a dear child, we will walk in love just like Jesus did to the point of giving our lives as an offering and sacrifice to God.  Not that we have to die for our sin as Jesus did, now we give our lives to God to live for Him and be His representative in the world around us.  When we do this, we become a sweet-smelling aroma to Him.  It means it pleases Him and is pleasant in His eyes.

Today I want to encourage you to imitate God and pattern your life after His.  He is alive and living in heaven today.  He is successful in everyway and desires for us to be also.  When we do our best to model our lives after Him and ask for His help to do it, we will begin to experience the satisfaction and completeness in life that He planned for us all along.  Pay attention to your thoughts, attitudes and actions today and ask yourself, am I acting like God in doing these things?  Soon you will be weeding out all the undesirable things in your life that bring destruction instead of joy.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 5:1-7

  Be kind

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

The last part of this chapter commissions us to be kind to one another.  As believers, we are part of a family, the family of God.  This is an admonishing that really shouldn’t have to be given, but as much as it was necessary for Paul to give it to the believers in Ephesus, we need it still today.  If you make it a practice to just be a kind person no matter who you are with, this will become much easier to accomplish.  Don’t worry about whether your kindness is received or not, look at it as a gift that you share with others.  In giving the gift of kindness, you are not looking for a reciprocating response because you gave it as a free gift with no obligation.  This will also eliminate you having hurt feelings and or defensive responses because there is no expectation.

The scripture goes on to tell us to be tenderhearted.  Another quality that is easier for some than others.  If you have the gift of compassion, tenderheartedness comes naturally, but if not, it can be hard to recognize sometimes even when the opportunity arises.  Being tenderhearted is recognizing when someone is hurting and needing some love and encouragement.  Even if they don’t realize it, your encouraging words and taking time to talk with them may be the very thing to draw them closer to their salvation.  Showing compassion can also just be sitting with someone quietly as they go through something and don’t even know what they need.  They just don’t want to be alone through it.

Lastly, is forgiving.  Probably one of the hardest things to do until you make a habit of it.  Letting go of hurt feelings and disappointments can be the hardest things to do in life, but when you do, you experience the freedom of not being bound by those destructive feelings.  The verse expounds on the idea of forgiveness and compares it to your forgiveness in your salvation.  That kind of forgiveness is wrap in love and is the most powerful expression we can give to anyone.  Just like God forgave us in Christ Jesus, we can forgive those who have wronged us and get the same results of freedom.  Glory to God.

Today I want to encourage you to be kind, be tenderhearted and forgive all.  Don’t ever be on the defense, become a person that advances into the lives of others by giving kindness and becoming tenderhearted.  Allow your heart to become soft toward others. This is truly an example of God’s love to this lost and dying world.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

Give grace to those who hear you

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  Ephesians 4:29

What is a corrupt word?  The word corrupt is used mostly in referring to someone who is dishonest, dishonorable and unscrupulous in their ways, but it can also mean manipulating.  In the case of computer files, if they become corrupt, they are inoperable or unusable.  So corrupt words can be defined as dishonest, dishonorable, unscrupulous, manipulating and useless talking.  I don’t know about you, but if I eliminate those from my conversations, I will be speaking a lot less.  That may not be such a bad idea for some of us.  If you find yourself continuously speaking words that dishonor others or not producing anything of value, this is a good filter to put over your mouth.

The second part of the verse says to speak what is good for edification which means teaching and building others up.  If you have become a person that feels that the only way to make yourself feel and look better is to point out the flaws of other, it’s time to make a change.  Instead, look for what is good in those around you and help them to be successful in their life walk.  Anyone can find the faults, the true test of your character is if you can see the good in the people around you and draw more of that out of them.

Lastly, the scripture says that this gives grace to those who hear.  When you speak uplifting, honest, honorable and encouraging words to others, you are giving grace to them.  Grace is actually on the inside of you in your words.  As you choose grace words, you are sharing the grace of God with others as you speak them into their lives.

Today I want to encourage you to put away corrupt words from your speech.  Every useless, dishonoring and manipulating words, put it far from you.  Speak words that build up and encourage others. By doing this you are giving the gift of grace to everyone you speak to.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

Work for a giving

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.  Ephesians 4:28

Have you ever heard the saying working to make a living?  I think we all have heard this statement in some form or another.  It means I go to work everyday so I can make enough money to support a certain lifestyle that I want to have.  That could be to support a family or some other thing that is a priority in life.  It is a good goal for sure and I am not making little of it in any way.  I believe we all should work and contribute to the society we live in.

Today’s verse puts an interesting spin on that saying.  It instructs us, first of all that we shouldn’t steal and hopefully none of us have that in our background, but if for some reason it is there, here is a redeeming quality.  Quit stealing from others and begin to labor, working with your hands at something that is good for those around you.  However, the reason is not so that you can live, but rather so you can give.  Give to those in need or give to those who cannot go to work for themselves.  This isn’t to say that you have to give everything you earn away, it is merely a mind set that you are working to have enough to support your needs and the needs of some that are unable to work, either temporarily or permanently. 

This is God’s true plan for a thriving society.  Instead of becoming dependent on the government, God made a plan that His people would take care of their own and those around them.  His people would be the ones reaching out to the needy.  In that way, you can bring more into the kingdom instead of having more dependent on the welfare system.  God planned that we would come along side of those who are down and help them get back on their feet again.  The truth is that those who are dependent on others to take care of their needs are those who don’t understand that God is the One that supplies every need according to His riches in glory (Phil. 4:19).

Today I want to encourage you to work for a giving.  If you are in a place right now that you are unable to work because of a physical problem, reach out to God today to empower you to get back on your feet again.  Then get out there and help others find the answers you have found in trusting Him by coming along beside them and helping them through until they are on their feet again.  Don’t get stuck in the world mentality that someone else should take care of me, ask God to help you find just the right place to labor and work with your hands so that you have something to give others that are in need.

Today’s scripture reading:  Ephesians 4:25-32

You can be angry

““Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”   Ephesians 4:26-27

Have you ever considered this?  That you can be angry and not sin?  How about you can be angry and give a place or open up a spot in your life for the devil to occupy?  I know none of us want to do that.  To be angry and sin not is to have feelings of anger or any negative feeling for that matter, but consider first the right way to respond instead of an initial reaction.  This falls in line with the fruit of the Spirit of self-control.  Instead of letting your circumstances or other people’s words control your actions, stop and take a minute to “look inside” for the best way to respond in the situation.

Today’s scripture, of course, is speaking about our relationships with others.  It actually says in this passage, that holding on to a hurt or angry feeling overnight into the next day or longer can set aside a place in your heart for the devil to dwell.  Let me give you an example.  If you are holding on to feelings of anger, resentment, or bitterness, and not forgiving or not talking with that person to restore that relationship, then your silence is allowing the enemy of your soul to have a voice in your life.  The voice in your head/heart is telling you that you have a right to be angry and that you had a wrong done to you.  That voice is feeding your anger, bitterness, and resentment.  It is not the voice of God’s Spirit.  God’s Spirit says to be humble, to not let corrupt or dishonorable words come out of your mouth, and be kind to others, be tender and forgive others.  Nowhere in the passage does it say to do this only when others deserve it.  We are to forgive and love because of who we are not because someone deserves it. You cannot forgive someone who hasn’t done a wrong.

Lastly, the passage tells us that this is the way God loves us.  Because of who He is, He forgave and cleansed us from all unrighteousness in Christ Jesus.  It was never because we deserved it or had a right to it.  It is only because of who God is and He expects us to do the same with all others.

Today I want to encourage you when you do get angry to not sin.  Don’t hold on to bitter and resenting feelings.  Put the light of God’s Word on those feelings, discuss them with God, and ask Him for the strength and faith to do the right thing.  Then remember to be kind, love and forgive others.  Don’t rent any space in your heart to the devil.  He will only seek to occupy the entire place.

Today’s scripture reading:  Ephesians 4:20-27

Default

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,  Ephesians 4:22

What is your default attitude and which way are you growing?  According to this passage, you must put away your old habits, or you will continue to grow in them.  Grow worse that is.  It’s true!  Have you ever noticed someone who is ornery, and they seem to become more ornery as they get older?  It’s the same with any bad attitudes or habits.  They continues to grow worse with us as we age. 

Today’s scripture says we need to put that away.  Put away all evil from our lives.  Sure, we may not struggle with the big things like lewdness and greediness, but what about things like complaining about things and people in your life or not in your life?  How about criticizing everyone that doesn’t do things exactly like you would?  What about judging others because of their past or present circumstances?  These may not seem like big things, but they are poison to your soul.  You have not heard these attitudes from Him and have not been taught these by Him, as the truth is in Jesus.  Verse 23 says we need to be renewing our mind in order to put on the new man.  That means we line up with God and His word continuously.  When we renew our mind, we are changing our default attitude to be in agreement with God and His Word, not against it.  Of course, we won’t get it perfect, but be quick to repent when you do slip in these areas and keep a clean heart before Him.  As His ways become your ways, you will be able to know immediately when you are not lining up and quickly turn things around in your heart to grow toward Him instead of away.

Today I want to encourage you to be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.  That’s a big order, but Paul says you can do these things because you have been taught by the Holy Spirit.  Learn to listen to His leading by make a decision that you are going to line up with God’s ways from now on.  Make God’s ways your default setting today so that your will be growing more in His plan for you every day.

today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 4:17-24

Growing

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—Ephesians 4:15

I love how this section of Ephesians 4 starts out.  It says that all believers should no longer be tossed and carried away with all kinds of doctrine.  We need to make sure we are not being tricked into believing deceitful plots and be growing spiritually.  Growing up in the things of the head of the body and church, Christ Jesus.  This is really simpler than we sometimes make it.  Rather than scrolling the internet searching for the latest phenomenon or unexplained occurrence, cultivate your relationship with your Heavenly Father through spending time with Him and His Word

The passage goes on to talk about those who want to find the people who will believe or agree with everything they think is right and fair. The truth is, there is no right, fair or truth without the Word of God.  All doctrine and plots can only be held to as they line up with God and His Word.  Even well-meaning Christians come up with some of the most far out ideas that can be easily recognized as man-made simply by looking at what God said in His Word. 

The best way to guard against deceptions and wrong doctrines is to press into your Heavenly Father through your salvation in Jesus.  Ask Him to show you the right way through the leading of the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God.  He will.  He isn’t trying to hide wisdom and plans from us, He wants us to realize all the good things He is doing in our lives and in those around us.  All through the scripture, we can learn about who God is and how He works.  I know we cannot possibly know everything about Him because He is infinite and eternal, but we can know what pertains to life as we know it today.  We know God is love and love is good.  We know because of God’s love, He didn’t spare even His most precious thing (His Son) to show His love for us and to get us back from His enemy.  We know He has good plans for us and we know He wants us to know them or else He would not have said it so many times in His word.  If this all sounds new to you, I challenge you today to begin to dig into His Word and find out for yourself.  Don’t let someone else tell you what it says, meditate it until the Holy Spirit brings you personal revelation.

Today I want to encourage you to line your life up not with doctrine or your favorite preacher.  Instead, line up with the creator Himself, the one who loves you and adopted you.  Set some special time aside today and everyday to get to know Him more.  If you begin to approach Him as wanting to know Him more rather than what He can do to fix your current predicament, you will start to realize that He will take care of all your needs as you walk out the life He planned for you before the beginning of time.  Grow up in the things of God and become joined and knit together with the body of Christ.  Do your share and cause this body to grow to be built up in love.

Today’s scripture reading: Ephesians 4:14-16