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First impressions matter.

ILLUS – I’ll never forget the first time I met my wife, Heidi…

2. What is your story?
3. The fact that you’re here means there’s more to be written and each day is another page written in your story.
4. How do you want the remaining “Todays” to read?
5. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Ephesians 5 and discover principles for making our “Todays” a story that glorifies our Lord.

Ephesians 5:15-17

Context

1. “Walk in a manner worthy of your calling” (4:1).
2. “Be imitators of God” (5:1).
3. Contrast Light vs. Darkness (5:3-14).

I. Today - Watch Your Walk (15)

A. Keep your eyes wide open (15a)
1. In the Greek, this is a present tense command which means “Look and keep on looking”, “be alert and keep on being alert”
ILLUS – Walking through the Ape Caves

2. Pay attention to your priorities – line up with God’s
3. Pay attention to your choices – line up with God’s
4. Result - We will avoid the way of the unwise!

APPL – The devil has mastered the art of distraction. Pleasure, leisure, procrastination; devices at his disposal which lead the unsuspecting, distracted, and deceived to believe they can put off weighty matters for another day. Along the way, they get off course, miss the mark, and suffer the consequences resulting in the loss of another day!

APPL – Perspectives on living: Young people vs. Older people…
• Young: Fun without consequences
• Old: One choice negated other choices…

ILLUS – A truck driver’s response to my greeting

ILLUS – Adam’s Football Team vs. Scappoose

1 Peter 5:6, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

B. Walk wisely (15b)
1. Humble yourself – Admit your mistake, own it!

James 4:6-7, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
2. Be teachable - Stop and ask for help!

James 1:5, But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

3. Act upon God’s Word

Quote: The word “wise” involves “forming the best plans and using the best means for their execution.” (Strong’s Lexicon)

James 1:22, But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

ILLUS – Adam’s Team vs. Scappoose… Finishing well!

II. Today - Make a Difference (16)

A. Redeem the time (16a)

Quote: Strong’s Lexicon states “making the most of your time” literally means “redeeming the time.” “To buy up, to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good.”

Quote: Warren Wiersbe adds, “As we obey His will, we buy up the opportunities and do not waste time, energy, money, and talent in that which is apart from His will. Lost opportunities may never be regained.”

1. Implied - Rewards for good stewardship.
2. Implied - Our days are numbered.

Psalm 90:10, 12, As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away. So teach us to number our days that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

3. The problem is life can be so mundane.
4. But there are opportunities to buy up even during mundane times.
5. Our choices during the mundane “Todays”
prepare us for handling future peaks and valleys.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
Pastor Rich Jones
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