Maximizing Minutes

Ephesians 5:16 – Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

In our lives before God, many of us would find that we’re not good at managing our time. Not only that, but we spend much of our day doing things that draw us further away from our purposes in the Lord. We consider free time as time to do nothing but watch TV and weekends and holidays as the same. After some time (or even at the end of a year), we look back and wonder where all the time went…only to repeat the same course of action the following year.

Sound familiar?!

There are many things we can do in this life, but only those that were in Christ will remain. Once you use your time, there are no refunds or exchanges. Once it’s gone…it’s gone. So, how do we redeem our time?!

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes:

Ephesians 5:14-17 – Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 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.

The death of those we know or hear about often brings thoughts of life and how we manage our own. We often contemplate the things we know we should be doing for God, but had not started. We may even start praying for a while and reading our Bible, but it is short-lived. Slowly, we slide back to our position before such thoughts entered our minds. However, this is the character of those that are asleep and do not understand the signs of time.

1. Awake from your slumber. The Bible teaches us that our lives are (1) short – (Psalm 39:4-5, Psalm 90:12), (2) will end without warning (Matthew 24:42-43; Luke 12:16-21), and (3) we must always be on our guard (Matthew 24:44-51). Therefore, it is important that we focus our life and efforts on those things that will last in Christ. We all desire to be found as faithful servants before Him, and it must come because we are ‘awake’ to the times of the day.

2. Watch your walk. We cannot understand where we are going until we understand where we are. Like a GPS route, it cannot determine how to arrive at your final destination without first locating your current point. Sometimes it’s helpful that we slow our lives down, take a leave of absence from work/ministry, and seek the Lord (in Word and prayer). Often, it is in these times that the Lord will reveal to us ‘where’ we really are in life.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of God will expose our heart, character, and lives for where they truly are. It will discern our hearts and minds against the perfect will of the Father…and we were need to be in Him.

Psalm 119:9 – Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

The Word of God will help us clean and establish (or re-establish) our ways in the Lord. It has the power to cleanse us and perfect us as children of the Most High, but we have to read it (and heed it) to unleash its purpose within in.

Psalm 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The Word of God will light the way for us in this life…and into eternity.

3. The days are evil. As we continue in life, we find that sin (and sinful living) is growing all around us. These days are evil and wants all of our time, attention, money, and focus. If we’re not paying attention, we’ll give ourselves to all that ‘the days’ has to offer and without giving the Lord any of it. We will become consumed with pleasing the world rather than pleasing God. We must reclaim each day for the Lord’s purpose. Just because I live in the world, I don’t have to act like it. I should be looking for (and living toward) the eternal city instead (Hebrews 11:13-16).

4. Understand what the will of the Lord is. For many people, they live their lives wondering what God’s will is for them. Unless the Lord gives them something BIG to accomplish, they view their lives as insignificant. Often some of these same people will say they are ‘called’ to do something, not because the Lord called them, but because they want greater significance among their peers.

Jesus died for us – that makes us somebody. Jesus looked upon each of our sin-filled lives and shared His love for us through the Holy Spirit. We deserve death, but He came that we may have life…that makes us somebody! The Lord thought of you!

When the Lord is ready to tell you what He would like for you to do – HE WILL. He will get your attention and you will know it is Him. All you have to do is ready, study, and meditate upon His Word.

We must not live aimlessly without purpose or focus. We cannot afford to allow our lives to be given to any other purpose than that of Christ. When we stand before the Lord, nothing else will matter. All of the money, status, positions, and friends will not grant us access into eternity. Having a righteous and faithful walk before the Lord will. We should live our lives in such a way that we will remain/keep our focus on the prize of eternal life.

Maximize your minutes by redeeming your time.

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