11/28/2022
By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
"Follow the Leader…During These Tough Times"
Back in 2002, upon hearing that my wife was pregnant, someone at my church wanted to know why in the world I would want to bring a child into a post 9/11 world (the kind of world where terrorists could easily take the life of my child). I acknowledged the person and responded by saying that the days we live in are evil but that we need to approach them wisely… making the most of every opportunity. For me, bringing a child into this world was a way to impact the world for good… a way to make the most of every opportunity.
Ephesians 5:15-16
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Paul spends a great deal of time in Ephesians 5 highlighting how and why we should act differently in the world. He says considering all these things, we should be careful how we walk. Then he tells us why… because the days are evil. That's a sobering thought… the very times we live in are against us.
Paul tells us we must be careful, but all too often we think we can follow the Lord without being careful. Satan tries to stack the deck against us. We are fighting against our own sinful desires and Satan has corrupted the world and the times are against us. He has made it so easy for us to fall.
The Lord's way is not an easy path. Often, we put off what the Lord would have us do, but we mustn't. Paul tells us to make the most of our time! God will give us openings, but we must take them. We can't take those openings for granted and believe they will be there forever.
So today, be aware of where the Lord might be leading you. Consciously follow Him. Look out for traps, and don't procrastinate when the Lord is leading you in a direction. Don't take the Christian life for granted. We are called for a specific purpose at a specific time. Christ did the work to get us to where we are! It wasn't easy! So don't think your Christian walk will be easy! Lean on the Lord and not your own understanding.
Deuteronomy 5:33
You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
