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;
How many college professors are teaching subjects they have no experience in, only theory? How many teachers are promoting ideas that have never been proven to work in real life? These are empty words. They sound nice, but they have no substance. They are deceptive, and the world falls into these lies.
We are not to even listen to them, for we are vulnerable to their deceptions and susceptible to their offers. Don't fall into it. Check them out.
for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Because we used to live in the darkness of the world, we can be comfortable in the ways we're familiar with; but now we're not to live like the world any more. All the concepts and ideas that used to inform us must be re-evaluated to see if they are good and right and according to the truth of Scripture.
We need to re-learn how to "do life" as God's children, taken out of the darkness and brought into the light. Open our eyes to see the reality before us. Use the things of the world for the glory of God, rather than just our own profit.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
Don't fall for their "great offers" to get into these questionable activities that they say are so profitable. If you're attracted to it, consider what they say in light of righteousness, and investigate who these people are. And call them out if they're promoting deceptive or corrupt ideas. But don't gossip about them.
But all things become visible when they are exposed to the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
When you shine the light on them, consider what you see, and look for what is there. Then you will be able to judge whether it is righteous or not.
For this reason it says,
Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Isaiah 60: 1).Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
Wake up from all the worldly projects and endeavors and programs that you used to participate in, and go forth into a new path, learn new ways, and join or start new programs. Carefully consider this new path, that you are obeying all the requirements of loving one another, and doing nothing that would harm or detract from them.
making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
He says that the days are evil. The world around us is evil, and every day we live in it we are exposed to that evil. So we need to pay attention to use the limited time we have each day to not waste it, but to use every moment in the wisdom of the Lord.
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
We are to be able to discern what God would want us to do in every situation, not making foolish decisions, or refraining from making a decision, which is also foolish.
And do not get drunk on wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
We are not to be controlled by worldly substances that alter our sensibilities, but we are to be controlled by God's Holy Spirit who lives in us, and think and live as He directs us.
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
always giving thanks for all things in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
When we do this, we will find that we have a song in our heart, some tune playing in our head, usually something we heard recently. Do you listen to Christian radio? This is a good way to put positive music into your head, and on your mind. This makes a good reminder to be thankful to God for all the blessings He showers on us every day.
and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
And this will also move us toward serving one another, as Christ came to serve us, walking in His steps; loving our neighbor as Christ has loved us.
O my Father, You have loved us so much, and it is your love that runs the Universe You made. And it is Your love that energizes all life. Life itself is spiritual, even normal human life is spirit, and when our spirit of life leaves, our bodies are dead. And Your Spirit in us gives us Your own eternal life.
So we need to cooperate with how You designed this Earth for us to build our world upon it, for You made it to run on love, too. And Your Spirit is the oil that helps it to run smoothly. When we let Your Spirit control our thoughts and attitudes and words and actions, then we will love You back, and we will love those You love, Your children, and all You have created.
When we get caught up in the world's ways, we do damage to ourselves, one another, and this very Earth You made for us. The worlds ways lie to us, to make us believe that selfishness is how to get ahead, or that we are humanly able to change what You have determined. But these worldly ideas are not Your thoughts for us, and lead us away from Your best for us all.
As Your children, Father, teach us how to learn Your ways, how to listen to Your Spirit when He whispers into our spirit, saying, "This is the way, walk here." Show us how Your ways are so much better than anything the world can dream up, and how Your ways work when the world's ways fail.
Don't let us fall back into the world's ideas, where we used to be. Keep us walking each step on Your narrow path that leads to Light.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
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