“I’ve been involved in a weekly Bible study group for the past several years,” Stan commented one morning.”
“Big group?” I asked.
“Not as big as I think it should be, ”he replied.
“So,” I said, “it’s not growing. You have any idea why?”
“Sure do” Stan said. “Saw it again last night.”
“What?”
“I was talking with a neighbor,” Stan replied, “and I invited him to join our group. He’s a fairly new Christian and I know regular Bible study would help him in growing his faith walk.”
“Is he going to join the group?”
“Not now,” Stan replied. “He said he didn’t have the time.”
“Didn’t have the time? Why?”
“Oh, he had a whole litany of excuses of the things that take his time and would keep him from committing to a Bible study.”
“So he had some legitimate excuses?”
“It’s not for me to judge,” Stan said, “but what he used as excuses opened me to want to pray for him to see the difference between using time for things that are important and those that are not.”
Continuing, he added, “Obviously, we all have the same number of minutes, hours, and days each week. How that time is spent is always a choice. Sometimes the choice is between something clearly bad and something not so bad, but often the choice is between something that’s good and something that’s better.”
“Choosing between something good and something better,” I repeated. “How’s a person supposed do that?”
“I can only speak for myself,” Stan replied, “but I try always to be guided by the Holy Spirit in the choices I make with the time God has given to me. I never want to say that I really don’t have time for something God has for me. He knows, and I know, that I have the same amount of time as everyone else. I ask Him for His help in how I choose to use it.”
“Does He help?” I asked.
“If I listen!” Stan replied with a smile.
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Bible verses to consider:
Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16.
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Colossians 4:5.
For it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the time you allow me to have. Only you know how much time I have remaining on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I don’t utilize the time you have given me to help build your kingdom. I do that because I choose to use the time I have for something else, something apart from you. Please forgive that foolishness. And please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead so I use the time I have for you and your kingdom just as you intend. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you taken the time to accept God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him when your time here is completed? If no, why? If you do have the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with using the time you have remaining on this side of eternity? Do you too often not utilize the time as God intends? If you sense the need for change in how you spend the time you have remaining — to grow before you go — how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 