Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
Ephesians 5:15-16
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
How many of you are like me in that you have fallen victim to that pesky ol’ snooze button on your alarm? Whether you use your smartphone or have an actual alarm clock, the snooze button on more than one occasion has become more of a detriment to you than a help. Before you go to sleep, you set your alarm for a certain time to wake up, spend time with the Lord and get ready for the day. However, that snooze button allows for you to buy a few extra minutes of rest so you think. The trap is that an extra 3 minutes of sleep turns into an extra 30 minutes, which in turns leads to you waking up very late and rushing to what you have to do/where you need to be and neglecting some of the things you could’ve done if you had more time (eat breakfast, fix hair, etc).
In the same way if we are not careful we can find ourselves hitting the proverbial snooze button spiritually as well. For instance when God may call us to do something, and instead of responding we’ll hit the snooze button, placing that call on the backburner for an excuse. In doing so we find ourselves then walking in disobedience. Paul in these two verses give some encouragement to us in these days to continue to choose to make the most of the time we have. Even coming out of this COVID-19 pandemic we ought to choose to make a conscious effort to not put God nor His mission on the back burner.
The reality in life is that our time here on Earth is short. James explains it best in that our life here on earth is like a vapor in that it is here today and gone tomorrow. The great news is that those in Christ will be forever with Him in Heaven when we pass, but the question is what are we going to do with the time we have here on earth? Paul gives us direction and lets us know that we are to walk in wisdom by making the most of the time we have. We make the most of our time by choosing to place the Lord and His kingdom as a priority in our lives and in the lives of our families.
Can I encourage you today? Don’t hit the snooze button on your relationship with God. Continue to choose to walk in Him, spending time in prayer and in His Word (Colossians 2:6-7). God still wants to grow and mature you in Him.
Also child of God, choose not to hit the snooze button on fulfilling the mission of God either! Listen, let us continue to make the mission of God to make disciples a priority in our lives and in our families’ lives in the days ahead. When God calls us to pray or serve that specific neighbor, instead of putting it on the backburner, we respond immediately in faith and go. When a need arises instead of hitting snooze by coming up with excuses as to why we can’t give, we choose to obey God and give while expecting nothing in return. When God calls us to boldly share our faith with that lost friend, we go! Listen, the mission of God is worth it and time is of the essence. There are many around us who need to hear about the hope and love of Jesus so let us step out!
Beware of the snooze button child of God. In the days ahead may we choose to follow Paul’s wisdom in making the most of the time we have! May we choose to let go of the excuses and choose to make our time with God along with His mission a priority in our lives because He is worth it! I am looking forward to the lives that will be forever impacted by you and your family’s decision to neglect the snooze button and follow God in obedience!
PRAYER FOR TODAY: Dear Heavenly Father Lord, thank you for your love for me. Help me today and in the days ahead to choose to make you and your mission a priority in my family’s life. Help me to walk in wisdom and make the most of the time I have here on this Earth by loving you, loving others and making disciples. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
2 Thessalonians 3:3: “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”