I've been pondering this question today: with all the time that has been allotted for each of us during this Coronavirus quarantine, have we used it wisely?
Thankfully, my time has been spent mostly at the church, where we've been limited but still active in preparation for the season to come, but even still there has been many periods where I've been given the free time to make an active choice with what to do with my time. Have I used that time wisely?
This past Sunday I preached on Colossians 3:12-17, specifically on making time each day to put off your old self and put on the image of Christ in its place so that we can walk every day toward sanctification: becoming holier today than I was yesterday.
At the end of Paul's admonishment to the church at Colossae to put on the image of Christ comes three instructions on how we utilize our time each day:
3:17- "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
3:23-24- "Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ."
4:17- "Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it."
As I think about these instructions, I come back to that question: am I using my time wisely?
If I put on the image of Christ, but neglect my time or use it foolishly, am I really walking in sanctification? Am I really becoming holier and being a reflection of the Spirit living within me?
I guess what I am asking myself today is this: when I stand before the Father at judgment and He and I look back on the downtime that I have had during the quarantine, will He be proud of what I've done with it?
Have the things that I've done and said been done in the name of the Lord Jesus? Have they been a good reflection of the faith and trust I have in Him?
Have the things I have done been accomplished enthusiastically for the Lord? Are they worthy of the reward of inheritance?
Have the things I have done and said during this time of quarantine helped me to accomplish the ministry that God has called me to do?
Every day, just as I actively choose to put aside my old flesh, put on the image of Christ and work toward sanctification, I must also choose to actively use my time in a productive manner, in a way that will put a smile on my Father's faith. At least, that's where I want to get to.
Are you there with me? Maybe there's some procrastination going on. Maybe some of you don't even know what the ministry that God has called you to is. Use this time to discover what that calling is!
Use this time to do those little things that make your heart come alive!
"The glory of God is in man fully alive." St. Irenaeus
God is glorified when we are obedient in doing the things that bring us mental, emotional and spiritual health! And we are much more likely to commit to actively glorifying Him when we are walking around with beating, healthy spiritual hearts.
Use your time wisely! Don't complain about being locked down; write that book that God put on your heart! Paint that amazing painting! Build healthy, life-changing relationship with your kids! Get active and healthy. Write music- sing out praises to the Father!
Things will return to normalcy before you know it- and we'll be right back into the swing of "being too busy" to accomplish .... whatever it is that your heart is secretly crying out for your to accomplish.
Use this time, this blessing of a slow down, wisely, my friends.
