Daily Devotional: Live Wisely Because The Days Are Evil

"Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15

Paul the apostle wrote the book of Ephesians while he was in jail around 62 AD. The world around him was full of evil. He was being persecuted for his faith by being put in jail for sharing the gospel. He truly was making the most of every opportunity, even writing to future believers while in prison.

Today, our world is in desperate need of the gospel. Systemic racism pervades the culture. Lust and greed run rampant in every nation. The love of God has grown cold. People don’t seem to wave to their neighbors anymore. Violence is glorified on the television. These days are truly evil.

As Christians, it is our duty to be wise and stand out against the crowd. Scripture makes it clear we are not to conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind in Christ (Rom. 12:2). The letter to Galatians expresses the Holy Spirit’s role in a Christian life, which cultivates the following fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). Therefore, in order to make every opportunity to be holy and righteous in an evil world, we must not conform but continually cultivate the fruit of the spirit.

What are some practical strategies Christians can implement to be wise and holy during this corrupt and evil generation? First, read the Bible. When you ingest the word of God, your mind is transformed to live a holy and righteous life. Someone once said, “Either sin will keep you from the Bible, or the Bible will keep you from sin.”

Secondly, use your gifts for God’s glory. Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God had prepared from the beginning of the world. When we live holy and share our talents, we are being wise and righteous in a dark world. If you don’t know what your gifts are, ask a mentor or friend that loves the Lord.

Finally, pray. Prayer is a necessary aspect of our Christian life. It’s how we communicate with God. It is essential for our spiritual growth. This is what Martin Luther had to say about prayer.

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” – Martin Luther

While the days may be evil, you have the opportunity to shine. Jesus told us to let our light shine before men so they will see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly father. He also told us not to hide our light under a basket, but to be like a city on top of a hill so that everyone can see the light of Christ in us. Are you ready to share your faith in this dark world? Are you ready to give hope to this broken world? I hope so! Let’s pray.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We live in an evil world. Help us to be wise. Open up opportunities for us to shine our light. Lord, thank you for giving us hope. Thank you for transforming our hearts and minds so we can cultivate the fruit of the spirit. Equip us to share this good news for this fallen world. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.