Paul uses the Hebrew idiom ‘walk’ to discuss Christian behavior.
In this final exhortation to walk in verse 15 of chapter 5, we are instructed: be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise. We all take care in those matters of life which matter most to us – our family, jobs, school, ministry, even our appearance. Here is an exhortation to take particular care over our Christian life in two specific areas.
First, making the most of our time. Time is a precious commodity. Once it has passed, the wisest of men can retrieve it; yet it seems we waste so much of our time wishing that we could. While we cannot retrieve lost time, or create more time, we can make the best use of the time given us. We live in an age that spurns the idea of redeeming time. We are taught that leisure is the antidote for work, that entertainment is the antidote for boredom. Have you bought into this formula? What do your instincts lead you to do in your ‘free time?’ That is one of the best tests to see whether you are redeeming the time or not.
Secondly, the wise Christian is discerning what the will of the Lord is. God’s regular guidance of his people is not a matter of ‘hearing voices,’ or ‘extraordinary events;’ rather He leads us in the right paths. Understanding God’s will comes as we apply His Word to our circumstances. But understanding the will of the Lord in context of Ephesians means much more than this.
