If the Nursery school you attended held classes under a tree instead of a building, you probably do not know the definition of circumspectly. Dictionaries define circumspectly as being watchful, cautious or prudent. A clearer understanding and application of this word circumspectly is found in Ephesians 5:15 which says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.” That means that to walk circumspectly is to walk wisely, not as a fool or a stupid person.
For those of you who have listened to sermons I have preached in the last five weeks, walking circumspectly is what God has been communicating. He wants us to walk wisely, by only doing what He tells us to. If we live by this revelation, He promises that we will never fail in life.
In the Tabernacle of Moses, which God called His dwelling place (see Exodus 25:8), everything therein was pointing to Jesus who was to come. That implies, that as Christians, since we are God’s dwelling place (see Ephesians 2:22), everything about us should testify of the Lord. Furthermore, since we are God’s spiritual house (see 1 Peter 2:5), we should make our decisions, especially the major ones, only after inquiring of God. Many Christians have experienced unnecessary sufferings because of walking presumptuously instead of walking circumspectly. Even after the Lord has evidently revealed to them His perfect will, some have stubbornly persisted and taken wrong decisions. The end result has always been hurt and pain, not mentioning the loss of eternal rewards that will be awarded on the basis of obedience.
Every person is prone to missing God. Paul the Apostle, who many think was infallible, also stubbornly missed God. When he did so, he suffered things which were not supposed to be, and he lost some years not effectively serving the Lord and His church. In Acts 21:4, the disciples “Told Paul, THROUGH THE SPIRIT not to go up to Jerusalem.” But because of his zeal to see his Israelite brethren saved, he stubbornly refused to walk by God’s clear guidance. When he reached Jerusalem, he was almost beaten to death. Then later, he spent more than two years in prison in Caesarea; we have no record of anything significant he did there while behind bars.
If Paul, the great Apostle, missed it, then any human, however spiritual they are, can miss God. However, “infallible” Paul’s missing God is not a ticket for us to do likewise. God’s earnest desire is that we “Walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,” Ephesians 5:15. That way, we shall steer clear of unnecessary miseries.
As we learnt on Sunday the 27th of November 2016, there is information from a very reliable source that Prophets John Paul Jackson and Kim Clement did not have to die that early. If they had not gotten involved in some things that God did not specifically tell them to do, they would still be here, blessing us.
Paul the Apostle’s story, and what we have heard regarding the deaths of John Paul Jackson and Kim Clement should be great object lessons, teaching us not to walk presumptuously. We should endeavor to “Walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,” Ephesians 5:15.
Watch out especially for those things the Lord has CLEARLY revealed to you. Obey Him, and reap the benefits of obedience; disregard them, and.. . . .!
God bless you.