Time and Time Again.

When reading Genesis 1:5, the Creator of the universe is creating time.  “God called the light day, and darkness He called night.  So, the evening and morning were the first day.”

Time was created as a gift for man.  However, time was determined not by a clock but by the sun and moon, light and darkness.  The early Hebrews planned their lives around the seasons and the feasts that God prescribed for them.  (Lev. 23) These were not only celebrations but as remembrances of God’s saving grace.

 Spring meant planting and fall was the harvest. They only had heavens and stars to give time.  The cycle of the moon and planets gave them the months.  God gave them a lifestyle.  The Sabbath was devoted to worship and rest.  Even the oxen got a day off.

But you and I are regulated by clocks, giving us minutes and hours in a day.  We feel productive when we accomplish the tasks that we feel must be done.  We go to jobs, take kids to school, and the myriads of daily living assignments.  After all, we are time-oriented society.

There are hundreds of books on time management.  Seminars by professionals on how to make your work, job or life more productive.  Time is of the essence they say.

If time is a gift related to God and God is love, then time is indeed a gift.  God isn’t in a hurry.  However, we feel that life is short and there is so much to be done!  God is above our technology-oriented society.

The kingdom is the ultimate rule of God.  Jesus brought the kingdom in its inception, and it will be completed when He returns.  Meantime the kingdom of God is within us.  So, seeking God’s character and to know him implies setting apart specific times to worship, study and praise Him for who He is.

This all leads up to “Seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you.”  (Matthew 6:33)

                         Our time, like all of God’s gifts can be squandered. 

• Redemption has the literal sense of “buying back”.  Let us “buy back” the opportunities that God gives us, liberating time so that we can make good use of it, taking advantage of the occasions which are  given us  to minister to others. 
• Listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and see where He leads.  This is a gift promised to all Believers.

Time and time again…….how will you use it?