Look Carefully

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Eph. 5:1-16, ESV

This careful and purposeful looking at how we walk with Jesus that Paul is encouraging here is to help us to keep our hearts aligned with Jesus. It’s for the purpose of Christ-centered living in an uncentered world. The author of Hebrews has good counsel for us on how to do this and tells us to “lay aside every weight, and sin, which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith… (Heb. 12:1-2)   
Here are four quick things Hebrews encourages us in this looking carefully:

1. Get rid of the things that hinder and distract you from Jesus and your walk with Him. You will need time to prayerfully evaluate what these things are in your life. 
2. Look at the race He has personally set before you. It’s always much better, safer, and wiser to actually run a race with your eyes open so you can navigate the course!
3. Run (much like walk) this race with endurance. We need His help and enabling Presence to have endurance to go the distance in our walk/run with Him.
4. Most of all, look closely to Jesus. He’s the Righteous One who was the forerunner for us in salvation and in all things. He’ll lead you, go with you and give you His Spirit for this race of life, for which we need to keep our eyes on Him.

When we walk in this way, we’ll be making the best use of the time. As we do so, we’ll find ourselves drawn by Him into how He wants us to walk with Him and we’ll see that He is looking back at us, with His eye upon us (Ps. 32:8).

Blessings as you walk with Him,

Pastor Andy

Points to Ponder:

• What keeps you from looking closely at Jesus in your walk with Him? Pride? Distraction? Shame? Busyness? Apathy? 
• What are ways you can personally “make the best use of the time”?
• Take some time to prayerfully examine your life this week to align yourself with Him. Read and pray through Rev. 2:1-7 to help you. 

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