Will of the Lord: Life is an opportunity[1] to carry out “the will of the Lord” (5:17) and bear the fruit of light (5:9). We were created in God’s image to reflect His character (5:1; Gen. 1:26). We were redeemed to imitate God’s likeness in Christ (5:1-2; 4:13, 24). This is what it means to be filled with the Spirit,[2] manifesting what God intended us to be in our speech (5:19a), song (5:19b), gratitude (5:20), and relationships (5:21). God’s purpose for us is that we be made complete in Christ (Col. 1:28), that Christ be formed in us (Gal. 4:19), that Christ dwell in our hearts manifested in our love (Eph. 3:17). God is more concerned with our character than our achievements. May we wisely redeem the time (5:15-16) for this purpose of God. The hourglass is quickly running out of sand.[3] May we be invested in manifesting and magnifying Christ.
Challenge: But this is no easy task, because a riptide is pulling everything into an ocean of sin and darkness.[4] The days are not neutral, but evil (5:16). Satan wars against us (6:11-12) and he schemes to busy us with everything but the will of the Lord. We need a sharp eye[5] to guard against his wiles and resist him, and we need to grow in our understanding of this will of God.[6] May we show up every day (Prov. 8:34) to learn from Jesus and grow in His likeness as we behold His glory (2 Cor. 3:18), and may Christ shine brightly through us.[7]
[1] “Time [kai-ros (καιρός)]” here is time as opportunity, not as chronological moments (chro-nos [χρόνος]). Hence, “redeem the time” means to leverage life as an opportunity to carry out God’s revealed will.
[2] In the phrase “filled with the Spirit,” the Spirit is best seen as the agent of filling, not the content of filling. The content is best seen as God Himself (1:23; 3:19; 4:10).
[3] Cf. Job 14:1-2; Ps. 39:5; 90:12; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Jas. 4:14.
[4] “Because the days are evil” echoes the argument (“therefore”) and points to the danger of sin (4:17; 5:7, 11).
[5] The imperative of 5:15 is literally “watch carefully [a-kri-bōs (ἀκριβῶς)],” that is, to see with accuracy.
[6] “Understand” of 5:17 is imperfective, thus continual. This is not only to know but to grow in understanding.
[7] Cf. 5:13-14; Matt. 5:16; Acts 13:47.