Paul’s words that we should “…walk circumspectly” (Eph. 5:15) would be easily understood by those who first read this in the King James Version. It simply means that as we walk we should be looking about and carefully considering all that is happening. It begins with us looking upward, to establish the right relationship with God. Then we should also look around us, to see opportunities to let our lights shine before others. The first and second greatest commandments are summed up in these two actions. However, we must never forget the third direction to look—look inward.
We should look inward because it is the source of outward actions. The greatest commandment about loving God is tied to the core of our souls. We are to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength (Mark 12:30). Service to God without involving the entirety of the inward man misses the mark. Walking circumspectly (looking around us) demands we look inward to measure the depth of our devotion to the Master.
We should look inward because it is the entry step to becoming a perfect (mature) man in the eyes of God. James speaks of the extreme difficulty of controlling the tongue and then adds, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2). Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). The road to spiritual maturity is obvious. Look inward, bridle the tongue, and spiritual maturity lies before you.
So this week as you commune with the Lord at His table, look inward to examine yourself as you eat and drink with Him (1 Cor. 11:27). Obviously, when we eat together, we look backward to the cross remembering Him. We look forward to His return as we show His death, but perhaps most important is that self-examination we do. In His wisdom He has given us a regularly appointed time to look inward.
Paul also urged the Corinthians to look inward for another reason. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5). Our walk with Him involves far more than knowing the faith, it demands we walk in it. Look inward! Are you walking in the truths of His word.
Our songs often describe our lives as we walk looking about. We may struggle and sing of our determination to walk one step at a time. Yet, we make each of those steps. One day the final step will be taken and that step is into our eternal home. God help us to “… walk circumspectly.”