Now is the Time

"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,

before the evil days come

and the years draw near of which you will say,

'I have no pleasure in them'. . ."

Ecclesiastes 12:1 ESV

People often think they can put off coming to Jesus, that there will be plenty of time to live in relationship with Him later.  Things are going fine, they reason, I'll just wait 'til I need Him, after I've lived a little.

Why wait?  How long is my life?  How much time do I have?  No one knows.  Therefore, now is the time for repentance from sin that leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10).  Now, when things are good, living is carefree and I'm in my prime.  Otherwise, I'll discover I've wasted my life!

Voluntarily.  He always knew God was there calling his name.  Instead of responding, though, he waited, placing God on hold where he could deal with Him later, when the time was right.  Then came the accident when he lost his sight.  No longer could he live as he once did, and the blind man knew God was giving him a wake-up call.  Hello!  I'm here and I want to be part of your life!  You are headed toward destruction!  Turn around and come toward Me where you will find life (Matthew 7:13-14, John 10:9-10, John 14:6)!

While salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is powerful no matter how and when I come, how sweet it is to come freely and of my own volition.  While ultimately it is God who is drawing me to Christ, it is up to me to respond or to resist, to cooperate or to defy, to give in or to stand firm in my destructive ways.  I can either wait until I hit rock bottom when I've tried everything else and failed to find peace and love, or I can put my faith in Jesus Christ now, giving Him my whole life.  The first is looking for proof or a guarantee while the second is taking God at His Word.  If I give Him a try I'll see how much better living with Him is (Psalm 34:8). 

Instead of trying all there is and coming up empty or waiting for a crisis to hit that will wake me up from my ignorant slumber, what a blessing it is to come to Jesus voluntarily.

Whole Life.  When I observe those who came to Christ early, who wholly submitted to Him at a young age, I grieve for all the years I lost to the sowing of fleshly oats.  Instead of the privilege of giving all my years to Him, I only have what is left.  When my body was young and before I had family responsibilities, who knows how God could have used me, what adventures I could have had while serving others in the name of Christ?  While I can't go back, I can warn others not to waste their lives on foolish pursuits that seem so important now but in the end, when standing before a holy God in the face of eternity, will not amount to anything (John 15:5-6).

There is another consideration regarding the timing of repentance.  The earlier I submit to God's plan for my life, entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ, the sooner reconstruction can begin.  There is much to transform in my life, and this sanctification is a lifelong process (Romans 12:2, Philippians 1:6).  It brings me great joy to see young people growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, knowing how special it is to experience His presence for all their days (2 Peter 3:18).

Instead of working against God until my final days, what a blessing it is to offer a lifetime to Jesus!

Preparation.  It's easy to see the United States and the world at large is headed in the wrong direction.  The mass slaughter of innocent babies is legalized and socially acceptable.  The name of Jesus Christ is a dirty word, often relegated to the use as a curse word.  Prayer to the One true God is considered an affront to a people who arrogantly and hypocritically claim tolerance.  Deviant sexual behaviors are celebrated and labeled as alternative lifestyles.  Identity has ceased to be a God-given trait and is now seen as self-assumed; I am whatever I want myself to be.  Self has clearly replaced God in this culture.

With things headed in such a destructive direction, how easy will it be to live for Christ in the days to come?  It may become a criminal offense to worship Jesus Christ, to mention His name, to proclaim His truths.  The days to come will only get worse for those who follow Christ.  Therefore, it makes sense to grow in my faith now in preparation for the days to come.  If I wait until tomorrow to make a decision about what I'll do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, will I give my life to Him when the cost is higher than it already is?  Should I risk the fact that I may balk at giving up the security of this life in order to attain the eternal life offered by Jesus (Luke 9:24-25)?  Better to turn to Him now while the opportunity is here.  It may be too hard to repent later, when I'm rooted in this world and it turns even darker.  

Instead of waiting until it's physically dangerous to turn to Jesus, what a blessing it is to follow Christ in freedom now.

It's easy to sweep my sins under the rug, pretending not to hear Jesus as He knocks on the door of my heart.  Instead of putting Him off, however, there is much blessing to be found in giving my life to Him now.  I can willingly turn over my life in my prime so I have my whole life to serve and grow.  Then, when times become more caustic, my faith will be strong enough to stand the test.  Now is the time to turn away from my selfish ways and put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).  I will never be sorry I did.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop resisting and start cooperating with Jesus.

How am I defiant to God?

When do I resist His advances, balking at His desire to come closer?  

  

Worthless

"The sons of Eli

were base and worthless;

they did not know

or

regard the Lord."

1 Samuel 2:12 AMP

Eli had taught them well.  They knew the commands of the Lord; the holy requirements for their service within the temple.  God had set them aside to perform sacrifices, specifically spelling out in great detail how these offerings were to be given.  Even though these men had learned at their father's knee, they paid no attention.  Instead, they came up with their own way of fulfilling their duties.

When the priests' rightful share of the breast and the right thigh no longer satisfied, (Leviticus 7:34-36) their wayward hearts led them to institute their own tradition:  For every man who brought a sacrifice, these rebellious priests sent their servant armed with a trident to thrust the utensil into the pot of boiling meat.  Whatever stuck to the fork, as declared by the young priests, now belonged to them.  

Once they tired of boiled meat, they came up with the idea to request raw meat from each man coming before the Lord to offer his sacrifices.  Even though they knew the fat portion belonged to the Lord and for a man to eat it was an abomination, (Leviticus 7:25) they still requested this holy part so that they could have a chance to roast some raw meat over the fire.  Their desire for roasted meat overshadowed any reverence they might have had for the Lord. (1 Samuel 2:12-17)

God labeled these sons of Eli who were born into the priesthood as worthless men.  Why were they deemed as without value by a God who created them in His image and placed them right where He wanted them for His own purposes?  They were considered as rubbish because they did not know they Lord.  As a result, the way they spent their time was wasted, the activities they invested in meant nothing, and the work of their hands was useless.

To avoid this same downward progression in my own life, I must seek to know the Lord and regard His ways as holy and significant.

Time

Each of us is given the same amount.  Some use it quite proficiently, making the most of every tidbit.  Others waste it, never realizing it's value.  This valuable commodity is given equally, across the board.  How I use it tells a lot about the status of my heart.

Time.  It is the great equalizer.  No matter how rich or influential one is, money or power cannot buy more time.  Even the poorest of the poor have been blessed with 24 hours in every day.   We all have been given free reign in how we use each moment; the only variable lies within my heart.  Will I use this gift wisely, or will I fritter it away, foolishly believing that there will always be more?

The world influences my decisions more than I realize, encouraging me to use this precious commodity to further my own agenda, to reach the dreams I have for myself, or to indulge in sensual pleasures that gratify my sin nature.  As a child of God who has been bought by the blood of Jesus, however, each moment is an opportunity to grow closer to the One who made me for Him and who loves me perfectly.  Every minute that ticks by so quickly in the course of a day is a chance for me to let the love of my Father flow out to the unlovable souls surrounding me.  As the second hand circles the clock one more time, I have been given another occasion to meditate on the treasured tidbit that I earlier gleaned from His Word.

Instead, I often take that opportunity meant for drawing closer to my Father and use it to go after what satisfies my flesh.  Equally as sad is the ease with which I find that I can waste that precious minute set aside for loving those that cross my path and use it for "me time."  Unfortunately, I also find it quite natural to ponder the ways I can spend my money instead of analyzing the truth I discovered in my scripture readings.

Therefore, it will take intentionality to keep from wasting the time God has given me.  His grace is sufficient to empower me to make the most of every moment.

If I want to avoid the road traveled by the sons of Eli, I must use the time that God has given me in a way that will bring glory to God and draw me closer to Him.

Choices

This way or that way?  One or two?  Up or down?  Now or later?  Life is filled with choices, that's for sure.  But choices are more than just decisions that I make.  They serve as a sort of barometer, gauging my values and priorities.  The options I pick reveal who I follow; me or God.

Romans 12:2 gives the answer to the question of how I can know God's will for my life and therefore understand the choices that will please Him.  First, I must keep from being influenced by the culture of sin in which I live.  Secondly, I need to cooperate with God as He changes the way I think.  As my thoughts fall more closely in line with God's, I will recognize the path He has prepared for me to follow.  (Ephesians 2:10)

Unfortunately for me, I often fall right in line with the world, buying into what Satan is selling through enticing temptations that are all around me.  If I hold my own contentment as most dear to me, for example, I will choose that which appeals to this desire, rejecting any notion of discomfort that will bring eternal reward. (Matthew 5:11-12) 

If my dreams are at the forefront of my mind, I will climb the ladder I think will lead me to great heights, only to find that I have forsaken my first Love.  (Revelation 2:4)  

If I allow my desire for popularity and acceptance to drive me, I will soon find myself walking the wide, crowded path that leads to destruction.  (Matthew 7:13)

Therefore, it will take intentionality to stand against the influences of this world, clinging instead to the richness of His Word and responding to His supernatural, transforming work that is going on within.  Then I will rejoice in the race He has marked out for me to run.

If I want to avoid the road traveled by the sons of Eli, I must make choices that honor God and deny the ways of the world that appeal to my flesh.

Work

My husband grew up with a strong work ethic instituted by his father.  Therefore, the highest compliment he can pay me is to say I am a hard worker.  Before I understood this about my partner, however, I took offense to his attempts at praise, thinking it not really complimentary but more like he was placing me in the same category as a mule or work horse!  Now that I know my husband better, I take his words as the compliment he intends them to be.

It's easy to take this mindset and transfer it to God's kingdom, thinking that He too must value my efforts.  Soon I find myself laboring hard "for the Lord," throwing myself into all kinds of activities that I think will please God and impress others.  Unfortunately, I end up forgetting God in the whole process, resulting in my efforts being in vain.

No matter how many good things I do; working religiously at the local soup kitchen, giving time selflessly to visiting the infirm, using my gifts to improve a ministry in my church, none of it will make any difference if it is done on my own.  In other words, if I am using my own self-discipline to keep my weekly appointment, depending upon my own brand of love to uplift those who are sick, or relying on my own strength to get a job done, my works are just that: works, empty and meaningless in the eternal scheme of things.

If instead I hold as most dear my connection to Jesus, keeping Him at the forefront of my minds-eye, He will lead me to do the things He has for me to do. (John 15:5) Once I follow Him, I will find  that I am producing fruit that will last for all of eternity.  Instead of spinning my wheels, I'll be leaving a lasting legacy of which God will be pleased.

Therefore it will take intentionality to resist the urge to labor hard for the Lord, diverting my tendency to work into an effort to grow closer to Him. (Luke 10:38-42) As I get to know Him better, my desire to obey His calling on my life will result in fruit that will last.

If I want to avoid the road traveled by the sons of Eli, I must make it my life's work to know God more intimately.

There is no doubt that Eli's sons were on the wrong track.  As evil as their actions were, however, I can easily find myself in the same mess if I'm not careful.  Living for myself and according to my fleshly desires have the potential of leading me down a very destructive path.  Therefore, it is important that I purposefully and deliberately use my time, make my choices, and work in ways that honor God.  In this way I will avoid being called a worthless woman.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live each moment for the glory of God.

When do I make choices that only bring pleasure to me?

How am I driven by my own desires?       

God Can't Fit into a Box

"But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father

placed his right hand on Ephraim's head.

So Joseph lifted it to move it from Ephraim's head

to Manasseh's head.

'No, my father,' he said.

'This one is the firstborn.

Put your right hand on his head.'

But his father refused.

'I know, my son; I know,'

he replied.

'Manasseh will also become a great people,

but his younger brother will become even greater.

And his descendants will become a multitude of nations."

Genesis 48:17-19 NLT

His mission?  To anoint the king who would replace Saul as king.  His tool?  A flask of oil.  His method? To let God show him which son of Jesse would sit on the throne.

Samuel obeyed God and traveled to the town of Bethlehem to find a man named Jesse.  When He arrived there, he told the elders of his intention to perform a sacrifice to the Lord and that they should gather all the men together for purification rites.  As Jesse and his sons arrived, he took one look at Eliab, the oldest, and thought to himself, Yep, this is the one!  He's the next king of Israel.

Knowing his thoughts, the LORD said, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.  The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT)  So Samuel considered each of Jesse's sons, but God eliminated them all from the running.

"Do you have any other sons?"  he asked the father of the chosen king of the nation of Israel.

"Yes, but he's just the baby.  He's out in the field tending to the flocks."

"Send for him at once."

And so Samuel, priest of Israel, anointed Israel's new king, a mere lad with sweat on his brow and sandals freshly adorned with dirt from the field.

God did not choose the one who seemed to fit the norm for a king.  Instead, he picked the young man whose heart was inclined toward Him.  Many times, God's ways defy cultural norms.  He transcends everything I have come to expect using my limited mental capacity.  Therefore, I should not limit God in any way.  Instead, I should expect the unexpected.

Time

It runs everything.  Appointments are set by it, meals are eaten according to it's alignment and it is used to configure the work day.  Without time, man would be lost.

In days of old, people would use the sun to help determine when to rise, eat, work and sleep.  Today, the clock has become our taskmaster.  Deadlines must be met, meetings attended and tasks finished according to schedule.  Our days are regulated by time.

To God, however, time does not exist.  His today is the same as yesterday and tomorrow.  He transcends time so it means nothing to Him.  (2 Peter 3:8-10, Psalm 102: 12, 24-27)  Therefore, even though I may stress out because I think I'm late, God is always right on time.

When I expect my life to follow a certain track, God pays no attention to my beliefs.  Instead, He slowly and steadily unfolds the plan for my life.  If I am to follow Him, then, it is important that I let go of what I consider to be normal, and allow the Lord to lead me through my days.  If my life looks different than everyone else's, that's okay.  

It is also important for me to not get caught up in thinking that everything God has placed on my heart must be accomplished now.  There is a right time for everything, and if I try to force His hand, I will be working outside His will.  Instead, I am wise to wait on Him to set the timetable.  (John 7:6)

God is not bound by time so I must not attempt to limit Him by the constraints of the calendar.

Traditions

"God helps those who help themselves."

"Cleanliness is next to godliness."

"God will not give me more than I can handle."

While personal responsibility, hygiene and competence may be important, the above commonly-held beliefs are not biblical.  Instead, I learn from reading God's Word that He helps those who put their hope in Him (Isaiah 40:31), godliness has more to do with a pure heart (Romans 12:1), and God consistently gives me more than I can bear because it is then that I must rely on His strength. (Psalm 46:1-3, 2 Corinthians 12:9)

I can't try to force God into a mold I have created for Him.  Instead, it is important that I keep an open mind as I read His Word, letting Him show me His identity.  Then, I will not be held back by the silly and strange beliefs man has developed to help explain the mysteries of God.  

When I am tempted to limit God to what I can understand with my mind, I am wise to let some things remain unknown and trust Him in His all-powerful sovereignty.  If it were possible for my puny mind to comprehend everything there is to know about God, He would be a small God indeed.

God is not bound by my comprehension of Him, so it is best I let the traditions of man go and simply let the Lord be the mysterious and magnificent God He is.

Laws of Nature

The farmer sets his daily schedule by the faithful rising of the sun.  Fishermen and beachcombers depend on the reliability of the tide charts.  Gardeners know the best season to prune and the most beneficial times to fertilize.  We all rely on nature to act a certain way and have become accustomed to her laws.

God, however, can act in a way that goes against these widely understood principles.  He can stop the flowing of a river in order to allow His people to enter into the promised land on dry ground. (Joshua 3:14-17)  He can feed the multitudes with a few loaves and fish.  (Mark 6:41-44)  He can also make the sun stand still for as long as He desires.  (Joshua 10:13)

It is important to remember that God is a supernatural God.  He can easily work around the laws which He set in place at the beginning of time.  Nothing restricts the work of His mighty hand.  Therefore, when the circumstances of my life seem impossible, I can expect great things from God instead of drowning in a sea of despair at the hopelessness of it all.  

There is not a thing that is outside of the realm of possibility when it comes to solving my current issues.  Instead of worrying and trying to find a solution, then, I would be wise to leave the problem in God's hands for Him to take care of. (Matthew 6:31-33)

God is not bound by the laws of nature, so I need not lose heart when I can't see the solution.

Since God transcends time, tradition and the laws of nature which he created, I can trust Him with every aspect of my life.  Instead of limiting God , then, and expecting only certain things from Him, I can let Him work as He does best: outside of the box which I have created for Him.  He simply will not fit!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can let God be God.

When do I make the Lord smaller than He is?

How do I limit His work in my life by my own lack of faith?  

  

Treasure

"For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19 

"Okay, let me get this straight.  You want me to turn off your satellite TV service, but you are not dissatisfied with the product and you're not trying to save money, but you simply don't want it any more?  Are you sure I can't offer you a lower rate with less channels?"

This is how the conversation went with the customer service representative of our former satellite TV provider.  He would not let me go without giving us a 6 month temporary suspension so I could easily restate our service once we realized we couldn't live without TV. He just couldn't fathom how we would be able to survive!  Well, it's been over a year and I have yet to make that phone call.

Confessions of a TVaholic  I would have never called myself an addict, but once we got rid of the satellite dish, I realized that I had been hooked on TV.  It took up alot of my time and determined our family schedule each evening.  "Hurry up and finish dinner because our favorite show is on in 5 minutes."  I rationalized that we were spending time together as a family, but what kind of quality time is spent watching mostly mindless entertainment?  Or I'd think, I'll just watch the news while I'm getting ready.  Fine, until I got to the point where I couldn't stand being in a quiet room with only my thoughts and God!  TV has always been important to me, so when God challenged me to let it go, it took faith. . and time to get used to the idea!  Now that I've done without, I can clearly see that I prized that small screen.  If I want to know what I treasure, all I need to do is take note of how I spend my time, and my money.

Time  When Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse, he told them that his goal, ". . . is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."  True treasure comes from God in the form of wisdom and knowledge through faith in Jesus.  How do I show that I value my relationship with God?  Many times I would much rather be entertained than be challenged intellectually and spiritually with life-changing scripture study.  Spending time with God in His Word will unlock the mysteries of Him and His kingdom, but it takes time and effort.  I have never experienced such fulfillment than when I have taken the time to spend with my Father.  It sure beats an hour or two of mindless television programming!

Money  It's easy to fritter away my money, spending it on a pack of gum here, or a magazine there.  But are these things really needed, or could my money be better invested in God's Kingdom?  There are many Christian organizations whose missions are to provide needed items and the message of the Gospel to a suffering world.  If I say that I care about those who are suffering, but would rather spend my money on things that would increase my comfort, do I really care?  It is my challenge to spend my money in ways that show I love my neighbor as myself, not so that I can make myself look good, but so that I can glorify God through my finances.  When Jesus sent the twelve out to the lost sheep of Israel, He instructed them to tell the people that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near, to heal, raise the dead and cast out demons, but also that, "Freely you have received; freely give." (Matthew 10:8b)  I am called to be willing to let go of what God has generously given to me in order to benefit others.

Christmas  This is a challenge during the Christmas season.  So much of what I do and spend at this time of year is based on fulfilling the American image of Christmas.  What if I spent more time focusing on other's needs instead of my own?  Who is alone this Christmas and could use a little time with a family?  Do the people on my list really need another book/sweater/gadget, or could that money be better spent helping someone with real needs?

Don't Just Talk About It  "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (I John 3:16-18)  It is often said that actions speak louder than words.  Jesus gave his very life, thus revealing what He treasured: restoring my relationship with my Father.   Do I treasure this as much?

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will treasure my relationship with God.

On what do I place higher value than I place on my Father?

How do I cheapen my relationship with God in the way that I spend my time and money?