Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 15, 2014
As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. John 9:4
Jesus had a sense of urgency. Not a frantic pace without purpose, but a focused diligence on doing God’s work. He prayerfully sought to steward each day with an eye on eternity. He did not allow criticism to distract Him in defensiveness, or praise to fuel His pride in superior thinking. Rather, Jesus knew He was on a mission from His heavenly Father. Time was a precious gift from God that deserved doing His will. Yes, our Savior had a sense of urgency around God’s priorities.
Therefore, from the moment the light of day graces our face, we prayerfully face the day. The morning dawn is the Lord’s invitation to engage in His activities. Since our sending agent is Almighty God, we don’t take lightly our duty. He has us on assignment as heavenly ambassadors. Thus, this sense of a divine mandate begs a question, “How can we best serve our Master Jesus while we have the energy and opportunity?” By the Holy Spirit motivating our sense of urgency.
“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).
Furthermore, our work with God in this life is preparation for our work with Him in the next life. Similar to earth before sin (the Garden of Eden), heaven involves our activity and engagement on behalf of the Lord. Our work on earth is just a warm up for our work in eternity. Yes, our brief time of service is barely a book preface, compared to the volumes yet to be written throughout the ages to come with Christ. Our sense of urgency now, sets us up for our strategic service later.
With this in mind, how do you discern God’s plan for the day? Ask the Lord how it flows out of His overall purpose for your life. Prayerfully put off the deeds of darkness, so you are free to put on the activities of the day. Put off pride and put on humility. Put off fear and put on faith. Put off procrastination and put on doing. Mentor, volunteer at a church or ministry board, sponsor a missionary, provide counseling for a struggling couple, or have coffee with a friend just to listen to them. Each day engage in a Spirit-led sense of urgency that is intentional in the things of God.
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me a sense of urgency that is Spirit-led, with an eye on eternity.
Related Readings: Isaiah 55:2; John 6:27-28; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Philippians 3:12-14
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© 2014 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
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Thank you for this posting. I woke up this morning early and pressed to read Colossians in its entirety. Pauls’ letter gives much insight and helps me in understanding. “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” Col. 4:5. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Col. 3:12-13.
There is only so much one can do in a day, and without Jesus Christ as master, we can spend our time building things up and preparing for earthly things that will not last instead of for God.