Day 334, or November the 30th. Always be under
the influence. Our thoughts today come from Ephesians
chapter 5, verse 18. Do not get drunk on wine
which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled
with the Spirit. First, the big picture surrounding
this verse. Paul gives us loads of great practical
advice towards the end of his letter to the church
in Ephesus. He tells us to be united and gifted
by God, to get rid of the old self and put on
the new self, given to us by Christ. We are to
be filled with the Spirit and be godly husbands,
wives, parents and children. In the last chapter,
Paul gives us those marvellous words describing
the armour of God that will protect us from the
evil one. But only when we put it on. And now
today's action step. It seems drunkenness is
a big problem in 21st century Britain, but frankly
I can remember growing up in the 1950s when I
regularly witnessed men staggering home after
a good night out. I suppose the main difference
between then and now are that it's not televised
or printed in the newspapers, and it was primarily
men, whereas it's both male and female now. I
have deliberately not said men and women, because
many of the offenders are too young to be described
as such. Why is it that particularly today people
drink cheap alcohol in order to get drunk and
then go to the pubs and clubs for a good time?
I believe it's because everyone knows that we
are not complete. We are not all we should be,
and something needs to be added. I'm sure you
will have heard what I heard years ago that we
all have a god -shaped holiness that can only
be filled completely by god we believers need
to be filled with his spirit and under his influence
in order to be complete we brits usually like
to be in control of ourselves but that's not
what god wants he wants us to be so influenced
by him that we will live a richer life than we
could ever live without him. Whose control are
you under today?