Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Eph. 5:17)
Expanded Passage: Ephesians 5:1-21
On July 20, 1969, after years of planning, building, testing, and refining, Neil Armstrong’s first words from the moon echoed around the world: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Interestingly, because the lunar lander did not sink as far as engineers expected, the last step off the ladder really was a giant leap for Armstrong. The first man on the moon, then, was the result of a giant leap, but thousands of small, deliberate steps brought him there.
Paul realized that the Christian faith is similar. Believers are called to show the world the same sort of love that God showed them, and every so often, they make a giant leap toward that goal. Yet, most days are spent making small, deliberate decisions to reject worldly foolishness and do God’s will. Indeed, every decision moves the believer either closer to, or farther from, their goal of following God’s example.
Believers must, therefore, decide daily to leave behind actions that keep them from reaching Christlikeness. They must choose wisely the people who will shape their faith and practice. They must pursue the godly things that open the door so the Holy Spirit can come in and rearrange as he sees fit, and they must be very careful to align themselves perfectly with God’s character and commands.
Decide daily to do what will bring you closer to God.
Jeremy Geerdes is a pastor in Des Moines, Iowa. He is passionate about holiness and his family.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
