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. Ephesians 5:15-17
Walk in unity, in clean behavior, in love, in light, and now what? Wisdom? That seems a little bit of a “downer,” an anti-climax, doesn’t it? Actually, it is not. It really is the climax, the capstone. Why? Because this is what breathes through all the rest. Someone has said “Knowledge is knowing what to do; wisdom is knowing whether to do it.” That’s the case here.
So where do we acquire that kind of knowledge? One way you acquire it is through experience. You have tried some of those things before, and you know that they really don’t work. Or even more, you know that they work just fine but that there are some likely consequences that are really not what was intended at all.
But there is an even wiser course than the one predicated on experience. Read on through this particular paragraph. Given that these are “evil days,” what should guide our choices of whether to take certain actions or not. It is God’s will, isn’t it? And what is God’s will? It is the same in every one of Paul’s letters. The language differs, but the point is everywhere the same. What is the most foolish thing you can do in these evil days? To live for the gratification of your desires! Call it “debauchery,” “the flesh,” “the old man,” or whatever; they are all the same: folly! Furthermore, if you remain walking on that road, unity, clean behavior, love, and light will not, cannot, characterize your walk. So what is the wise thing to do? Be filled with the Spirit! (Eph 5:18) Here is “wisdom from on high” (James 3:15). Let Christ fill your life with himself. Free from the tyranny of self-will, and its driving desires, there will be melody in our hearts (5:19) and gratitude on our lips (5:20). Our walk will radiate light, love, purity and unity. Like Enoch, we will walk with God.
Called To Be Transformed 