Purposefully

Ephesians 5:^15-17 “So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly. Take advantage of every opportunity because these are evil times. Because of this, don’t be ignorant, but understand the Lord’s will.” (CEB)

To live light forward, there are a couple of things you and I must do. The first thing that I must do to live a light forward life is, I Have To Pay Close Attention To How I Conduct Myself. To live a light forward life, you must pay close attention to how you conduct yourself. God says in Ephesians 5:^15-17 “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” In other words, pay attention, pay close attention to how you live your life. You are not to be inattentive; if you are in a meeting, be present, do not be inattentive. You are to be engaged in the discourse. You are not to speak thoughtless words or act thoughtlessly. You are to pay attention to your life. In other words, God is saying, no random living.

We should live with intentionality. The story is told of a little boy at the beach who was throwing darts all over the place. He throws a dart and whenever the dart lands on the ground, he would go there and draw concentric circles around the dart such that the dart is in the bull’s eye. Then he will dance and celebrate, jump, and yell, ‘I did it! I did it!’ He will then move to another location and do the same thing all over again. Someone who had been watching, went to him and asked, ‘What are you doing? You are supposed to first draw the concentric circles, then aim, and throw your dart. And then if you hit the bull’s eye, that is when you should celebrate.’ But the young boy said, ‘Why will I want to do that? When I throw it, I draw my concentric circles anywhere it lands? That way I do not miss.’

Funny story, right? However, it will interest you to know that that is how a lot of us live our lives. We throw and anywhere it lands, that is where we draw our concentric circles. God says, ‘Not so! Live intentionally.’ You should live intentionally, so be careful how you live. We are to live a very calculated life, walk a very calculated walk. We are to live a very calculated and cautious life. God expects us to live a very deliberate life. A deliberate life starts with the end in mind. Unlike the little boy at the beach, you do not do things and then you draw your target around your decisions. If I do this and it works, then it is God’s will, and we can celebrate.

God is saying, No! God said to the Jews, I am the One that declares the end from the beginning so that when it happens you will know that I am God. I am the One who has told you what will happen. Today is the eighth day of February, it is still the beginning of the year. God is saying to us, be intentional! Do not just leave your life to chance. Where are you going with your life? Be intentional. Pay close attention to how you conduct yourself.

Prayer: Father, help me be intentional with my life, to live with purpose in every step, to take initiative, and act thoughtfully, in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen!