Delivering the World from Evil

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” – Eph 5:15f.

There are two directions to take these verses.  One is to emphasize that we need to be really, really careful, because the days are evil.  The other is to emphasize that we are to take advantage of every opportunity because the days are evil.  I think Paul has the latter, more optimistic view in mind.  We are not to disregard the days because they are evil; we are to take advantage of them with the wisdom that is ours in Christ.  We pray that God would “deliver us from evil,” and we ought to believe that He is regularly answering that prayer through His church in opportunity after opportunity.