Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…
Today we won’t go into the debate of whether Christians should or should not drink. Whatever your beliefs on the subject, our focus is on the focus verse of the day and what God is telling us. Instead we will focus on being filled.
Paul cautions the believers to avoid drinking and the negative effects it can have in our lives (the NIV says it leads to debauchery while other versions call it reckless living) and I am sure we all know people who this describes. Instead, they are to be filled with the Spirit. The state of intoxication is the opposite of being filled with the Spirit.
Earlier this month, we spoke of our bodies being a temple (1Corinthians 6:19) and today’s verse reminds us to be filled with the Spirit instead of toxic substances. Whether that substance be alcohol or drugs, we should be respectful of the temple where the Spirit dwells, within us. The Spirit is our source of strength and self control, not something reckless and self indulgent.
Being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event. It is a daily experience, a fresh start to a new day dedicated to seeking God and serving Him with everything we have. We choose to abstain from the things that hinder our connection with the Spirit and His holiness, refusing to cloud our judgment with substances that alter our perception and disrupt our heavenly fellowship. We turn to the Spirit and let Him consume our every thought, desire, and action.
Step out in faith today and let the Spirit fill you with His power and majesty. The high you experience when filled by the Spirit far outshines that which is obtained with worldly substances.
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