Ephesians 5:15-17 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."
How many of us are truly "redeeming the time"?
In our sunday school class, our teacher really brought conviction to me through these verses listed above. Sometimes, I am SO busy!! I've only got a million things to do every day: time with the Lord, time with my family, time spent on photography, time spent on the house, time spent at church... OH, THE LIST! On and on it goes... I know you all are following me here...
So, let's take some time to think about time. : )
First, I would like to point out one obvious thing about time that is so often forgotten: No one has any more time than you do. We all are so wonderfully given 24 hours each day--time that God has allotted each of us to accomplish His divine will on this earth. Each moment you are given is a precious gift from God which we are to be good stewards of. What are you doing with this gift? Are you "press(ing) toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" Philippians 3:14 or are you living in the world for the temporal things, and living for yourself or others, 1 John 2:15-17? Also remember, the busier you are--the less you think about God!
Another thought to consider: It does no good to dwell on the past--whether it be guilt, glory, sorrows, or resentment. Paul said, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" Philippians 3:13 He essentially considered the past a "dead issue" whether good or bad, because it did him no good. Another way to think of this might be that, "Worry does not take the sorrow out of tomorrow--but it does take the strength out of today." Two more verses to bring home this point: Matthew 6:34 "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Most definitely easier said than done--but still what we are called to do. God will help us if we ask Him to! And, Psalm 118:24 "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." God gave us this day, this moment, this second--be happy! It's His gift to us! What a great God!
Last thought, based on these verses: Proverbs 27:1 "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." And James 4:13-15 "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
WE ARE NOT PROMISED TOMORROW. Period. Think of it this way: "Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is all the cash you have." You all know the old saying "Don't put off till tomorrow what could (or should) be done today"!!
I know this is a lot... But I was deeply convicted of my usage of time. God has so graciously bestowed this gift of time to me. I don't want to waste it! I want it to be for Him!!
So here is a quick recap:
1) Be careful about getting too busy. We will one day give an account for all of our actions--including what we did, or did not, do with our time.
2) Cut yourself loose from yesterday, and "Tomorrow" is a time that is nowhere "but on the fool's calendar".
3) We all have time. Use it wisely and efficiently for God! Accomplish His will with your gift of time!
My last and final thought:
2 Corinthians 6:2 "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
~Page
Page what you said is so true, but the one that really got me was getting to busy. Yes there are so many things that needs someone to do them but God doesn't expect me to do them all. When I do that which I am not called to do I take a blessing away from those God wanted to do it. I can also stifle their growth by doing for them instead of allowing God to teach them to do it.
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