"A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE"

Quite often, we hear people say, "I have an hour to kill." Time is not something to destroy! It's a gift from God to treasure and use wisely. Time is among our most precious earthly possessions. What good are family, jobs or money if we have no time? We need to make the most of every opportunity with each passing moment God has gifted us with.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Time is the substance life is made of. Yet we often fail to see time as a precious gift from God. It often becomes "my time" ~ time that we use, abuse, fill or waste. We suffocate it with worry or let it fly by, with things that could have been accomplished. God's Word tells us there is a time for every purpose under heaven. A Christians purpose is to make the most of each day, seeking opportunities to serve our living God.

"THESE words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." John 17:1 "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." John 17:4

Jesus has taught us to be selective. His public career lasted bot much more than one thousand days. He did not teach and heal all the time. He spent time in prayer ~ he rested and slept like others. Yet when His earthly life was over, He prayed to His Father, I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do. Jesus was concerned about doing His Father's will with what time He
walked among people here on earth ~ to live and die and rise again as the Deliverer from sin and its eternal effects.

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15,16

Time that is past and time yet to come cannot be bought. Paul tells us to redeem the time. To redeem means to buy back. When we put a new value on time and on the things we do in time, we are in effect buying it back. When we understand what the will of the Lord is, we are redeeming time. When we love God and serve Him we are giving a new value to our time and are therefore, buying it back. Jesus foretold that between His ascent into heaven and His return there would be evil days. But He assured us also: "... I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Thanks to His victory, we can redeem the time and turn evil days into good days.

Application: Let us, like Jesus, concentrate on doing our Father's will. Let us plan our time and organize our activities to make time for God and take time for people. Let us make wise use of little moments of time that are otherwise wasted. On Judgment Day we will be asked to give an account of our life to the Lord. May He say to each of us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21)

Today's Devotion: "I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the icked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." Ecclesiastes 3:17

God Bless You All, as you utilize your time in a way that would pleasing to our Lord and Savior.