The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 5:15-20, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”

I won’t ask if you’re at all careful about “how you walk.” Three years ago, I wasn’t paying attention
to how I walked and fell! I will spare you the pictures, but I went through several tests, spending the night in hospital. I won’t say it wasn’t “fruitful,” as I had opportunity to witness, but falling is not encouraged.

The word “walk” in our verses above, however, is better translated “live,” since the apostle Paul goes on to say “making the most of your time,” as the days in which we live are evil. We shouldn’t spend too much time here, as few if any readers of this “letter” would contest the reality of evil in our world today.

Paul’s challenge is negative toward wine, but positive toward the Holy Spirit. It’s imperative that we understand “wine” to have been mixed with water in those days. Nevertheless, some were more “generous” with the wine than they were with the water!

Believers are soundly disscouraged from excessive wine consumption, but positively encouraged to be “filled” (i.e., controlled) by the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit controls us, we enjoy speaking to one another “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…making melody (at all times) to the LORD.”
My dear old grandmother used to go about her work singing a hymn to the LORD. Notice that the attached singing that Paul encouraged was the singer’s heartfelt thanks to the LORD! Everything good comes from Him, and everything good accrues to His favor and glory. Think about this the next time you sing a hymn in church.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom