Don't act foolishly

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. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

How can we 'be careful' in our living? The most important thing is to not live like the fools do. What exactly makes for 'foolish behavior'? Any behavior that reveals a total lack of sense, especially when we compare that behavior and its outcome with the scripture. Perhaps this is why God reminds us to put some thought into our behavior. We need to consider our actions - ill-considered actions usually result in poorer results. What we use to 'consider' our actions is important, though. We need the wisdom that comes from the scriptures and the guidance of God's Spirit within us - without that we are flying solo!

To understand what God wants us to do, there are some key things we must incorporate in our daily living:

1. Pray about it - don't just launch it out there and ask God to bless it, then walk away. We need to take time to consider the wisdom of the actions we are about to take and the words we are about to speak. As we pray, we need to listen. The conversation is two-way. When we cut God off, we are living like the fool.

2. Explore what the Word of God has to say - learn from the examples given to us. It is not wise to repeat mistakes others have already made! We can see so many lessons from the life stories that have been recorded for us in scripture. We need to take in God's Word, letting it roll around in our brains a while until it actually begins to assure us of the right actions to take. 

3. Use wise counsel - this is why we need close friends who are also listening intently to the voice of God. We probably don't want to take the counsel of others who are not following Christ because their wisdom is not put through the test of God's Word. We need to be cautious about the voices we listen to for our 'advice' in life - the wrong advice can have us spiraling out of control pretty quickly.

Last, but not least, we need to be sure we remain current with God. That means we need to recognize when we haven't made right choices, repent, and get back on the right track as quickly as possible. The fool will overlook the importance of allowing God to convict him. The power of conviction is often what gets us to consider our course, make the necessary corrections, and get going in the right direction once again. Just sayin! 

Love includes some not so happy stuff

Give a little love to a child, and you get a great deal back. (John Ruskin)

Discipline your children while you still have the chance; indulging them destroys them. (Proverbs 19:18)

Proverbs reminds us that disciplining your children is really loving them: "A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them." (Proverbs 13:24) How many parents today struggle with how to discipline their children. Back in my day, the sassy mouth, bad attitude, or occasional wrongdoing was dealt with by either taking away a privilege, getting a couple whacks on the backside, or being grounded. I knew the occasional need to restrict me, and even the occasional swat on the backside didn't mean my parents didn't love me. In fact, it was just the opposite - they cared enough about how I'd turn out that they took the steps to require the right respect for my elders, follow the rules set forth by those in a position of authority, and to always do my best. God is much like my parents were - he cares about me too much to let me continue in any wrongdoing or the pursuit of things that aren't the best for my life.

Did I always appreciate the discipline when it came? No way! In fact, I sometimes wanted to run away from home! I think the idea of 'running away' when discipline comes our way is not a unique thing to me. I imagine a good many of us see discipline coming our way and want to turn and run before it arrives! One thing I always knew about my parents - they loved me. One thing I definitely know about God is that he always loves me - even when I mess up. The same goes for you. Mess up - and we all will - and discipline may just be the outcome. Why? God loves us too much to let us continue in that mess any longer. Discipline isn't the absence of love - it is the evidence of it.

John Ruskin also reminds us, "The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but by what they become by it." It can seem like we are working hard to embrace the discipline God sends our way, but keep in mind there is something happening within us when we allow God to train us through those bad spots. Yes, I said 'train us' - because that is what discipline really is - training and teaching designed to be learned and repeated. Rather than repeating the mess up, we begin to learn how to repeat the right steps. We call that obedience - a learned 'good' or 'right' behavior that corrects a previously learned wrong or bad behavior. Embrace God's love when it comes - it isn't designed to hurt you - it is designed to 'grow' you! Just sayin!