Ephesians 5:16 - Taking steps

 

         I love Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore, ever since I was very young.  Winnie is the eternal optimist.  Tigger just likes to bounce and have fun.  For Eeyore, it seems he just can’t get past the negative. 

             There are so many hardship stories in the Bible. Take Joseph, for instance.  He was favored by his father, hated by his brothers.  In fact, his brothers sold him into slavery.  Then there is Job – a man of great wealth, who had everything (and I mean everything) taken from him; his home, his livestock, his children, his wife, even his friends came against him.  And, how about Ruth, who lost everything, took a chance and moved to a strange land with her mother-in-law. Esther took a chance and went before the King without being summoned.  Then there was Daniel, who would not eat what the King told him to and refused to pray and bow down to anyone other than God.  He was thrown into a den of lions.  All of these people took a chance and did what they had to do to stay right with their Lord.  These people lived through their circumstances and situations.  Unlike Eeyore, we have nothing to complain about.

             God is honored when we take a step of faith and trust Him.  Joseph, Job, Ruth, Esther, and Daniel (and many others in the Bible) all took a chance in their negative situations, trusted God and took a step of faith.  The result?  They were saved and honored.  AND, their Lord God was exalted and honored.

             Ephesians 5:16 tells us to be careful how we walk, making the best of our time, and to make the most of every opportunity.  Is there something you are being called to do and have been playing the role of Eeyore?  If so, will you be willing to be a Tigger, bouncing around, excited about the opportunity of serving your Lord? How about being a Pooh, the eternal optimist and joyful about seeing God work in unknown circumstances?  As for me, I have played all these roles.  I want to be Tigger and Pooh, not Eeyore.  How about you??