Today's Daily Lesson comes from Ephesians chapter 5 verses 15 through 20:
15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today a friend on Facebook is celebrating 3 years of sobriety.
Another friend just marked his third dry date.
I haven't given up alcohol all together, but I have cut way, way back. It was just too easy to drink too often during the pandemic.
What else was there to do in 2020 but pour a glass of wine and watch the world fall apart?
These are "evil days", the Lesson says this morning. We shouldn't shame ourselves too much for wanting to escape.
But the task of the spiritual life is to stay present. It's to stay awake, keep alert, and keep connecting.
"Be careful how you live," the Lesson says. Another translation says, "Watch how you live."
And we can't watch out for others, if we don't first watch out for ourselves.
Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
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