Daily Scripture - May 13

Ephesians 5:15-21
(Memorization Scripture 18-21)
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

We should add verse 18 to the memorization verse, as it is the key to all these imperative "do's" and "don'ts." Fools seek stimulant and satisfaction from wine (and other similar things), but wise seek being filled by the Holy Spirit, in these evil days. Being filled with alcohol (and other similar things) can take control of our lives and lead them to dissipation. On the contrary, when we are often filled by the Spirit and become a Spirit-filled person,  we will be able to live a life full of God's joy, singing and making melody to the Lord, giving thanks always, and speak truth edifyingly to one another. Then, being submissive to one another (between any people relationship, especially in family relationships followed this passage in Eph. 5) is not difficult at all because of the fear of God.

弗 5:15-21
(背誦經文18-21)
15 你們要謹慎行事，不要像愚昧人，當像智慧人。 16 要愛惜光陰，因為現今的世代邪惡。 17 不要做糊塗人，要明白主的旨意如何。 18 不要醉酒，酒能使人放蕩；乃要被聖靈充滿。 19 當用詩章、頌詞、靈歌彼此對說，口唱心和地讚美主。 20 凡事要奉我們主耶穌基督的名常常感謝父神。 21 又當存敬畏基督的心，彼此順服。

18 節是這段命令式經文的關鍵。愚昧人想在酒精（或者其他類似可以迷惑我們的東西）裡找到刺激和滿足，智慧人卻在這邪惡的世代抓住機會被聖靈充滿。醉酒，可以使我們失去控制，我們常常被聖靈充滿，就要成為一個滿有聖靈的人。一個滿有聖靈的生命，充滿神的喜樂，使我們可以常常感謝神，口唱心和的讚美神，說造就人的好話。這樣，要活出在接下來的經文中丈夫和妻子，父母和兒女，主人和僕人，等等合神心意的人際關係，就一點不為難了。因為，是敬畏神，使我們彼此順服。