Some God Advice from Paul!
There are times when people give us advice and we may ponder it around, but recognize that in the long run it applies more to their life, than ours. This was not the case in the admonitions expressed by the Apostle Paul. They did not flow from his experience, rather he wrote words that were God Breathed through the Holy Spirit unto us for our benefit.
In Ephesians 5, beginning with the 15th verse we see some straight talk that will save our life, if we let it:
15-21 Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do. Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don’t be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of God. Don’t get your stimulus from wine (for there is always the danger of excessive drinking), but let the Spirit stimulate your souls. Express your joy in singing among yourselves psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making music in your hearts for the ears of God! Thank God at all times for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And "fit in with" each other, because of your common reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:15-21 (PHILLIPS)
The Apostle Paul lived in tough times, but tough times did not cease with the passing of his generation. Down through the ages men have encountered tough times, and it is no different in our generation. We can skirt the issues by indulging in the distractions of this life, or we can face our challenges with the wisdom that God gives us in passages such as this, and not only know His Will but DO His Will!
Worldly distractions are abundant; yet they offer only a temporary lift. When we let the Spirit of God stimulate our souls, and really engage in the joy of the Lord through singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord we enter a domain of the Kingdom of God which is more than a temporary fix it is a life-giving and life-sustaining reign, allowing us to live heaven on earth. When we bypass the benefits of fellowship with other believers we rob ourselves of the strength of unity and purpose that builds us up in our most holy faith. Is this really necessary, you ask? Well, is breathing in oxygen necessary, or can we make it on our own?
Maria