I’m not at all sure what happened to this week. It went zipping by so fast that I think I missed part of it. Of course that’s not possible. I know that I was there for every minute . . . unless of course you want to discount the time I slept.
So, what happened to it?
I wish I knew.
I’m a goal setter. If you are like me, each day when I get up, I have a list of things that I want to accomplish before the end of the day. Most of the time, I get them all done . . . at some point before I go to bed.
When I look at the list before me, it always seems like a lot. When I am done for the day, it always seems like a little.
If we group all our time together like we’d look at a budget, we might be a bit dismayed. If we sleep 8 hours, one third of our day is gone. If we spend an hour eating at each meal, another 3 hours of our day is gone. If we exercise for an hour – I’m not good about doing that one – we’re up to 12 hours. If we spend an hour traveling to and from work, an hour getting ready for work, 2 hours on email, and an hour listening to the news, we’re up to 17 hours. If we spend an hour on miscellaneous errands, an hour on cooking dinner, an hour on R&R, and 8 hours working, we’re up to 28 hours. HM, we’ve left a 24-hour day in the dust, and we have yet to spend time with God.
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16
Of all the things I named, what do you feel is the best way to redeem the time? The commentaries had ideas about what the author meant, but I think we can easily see it if we ask ourselves what we hope to get in return for all our time here. The real exchange for our time is what we will have in eternity.
Are you working on your relationship with the Lord? Is the question of salvation answered for you? If you have not received Jesus as your Savior, no matter what you’ve done with your time here, you’ve not redeemed it. You’ve spent it.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:21-23
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to be sure that you are redeeming the time. Be sure that your works are not done in vain. Have a personal relationship with Jesus. Make that commitment to follow Him before it is eternally too late.