WALKING CAREFULLY

Text- Ephesians 5:15-21

Introduction

This morning our text is found in Ephesians 5:15-21 and the title of my message is, "Walking Carefully".

As Dwight L. Moody and a friend were talking one day, their attention was drawn to a man nearby. "He must have been in the army or a military school,"  remarked the evangelist.  "That's right," said his companion, "but how did you know?"  "By the way he walked," replied Moody.

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they walk.  You can tell if they were recently in the military.  You can tell if they are strong or weak.  You can tell if they are healthy or have an injury.  You can tell if they are experienced or inexperienced.

One day in a church lobby a small child was learning to walk.  His daddy was keeping a close eye on him.  The little fellow would take a few tottering steps, and plop--down he'd go.  His dad would pick him up and he'd be off again, without heed to direction, his arms flailing for balance. Then after a few feet, he would tumble again.  I wondered how long it would take him to walk easily without falling.

Hosea 11:3a I took Israel by the arm and taught them to walk. (CEV)

Through the prophet Hosea, God said that He taught the Israelites to walk.  He took them by their arms and gave them the support they needed. Through the Holy Spirit, He does the same in our lives when we first trust in Jesus.  Moreover, our first steps of faith are much like that little boy's.  We start out, but soon we fall.  Then the Lord picks us up, and we take off again.

That father in the church lobby was patient with his son.  How much more so is our heavenly Father with us!

As we examine our text this morning I would like us to notice seven steps God shows us in his word how we are to walk carefully.