Several weeks before the New Year, I started asking the Lord for a passage of Scripture to pray over myself in the coming year. In 2007, the verse was James 1: 19, “Know this my brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” And over the course of the year, I saw the Lord targeting issues of anger in my life, as well as shedding light on my tendency to talk too much and to listen too little.
So once again, I asked the Lord to give me a glimpse of the refining work He wanted to do in me so that I could pray along with Him. Almost immediately a passage came to mind, and it stayed on my mind right up through the New Year. It is Ephesians 5:15-16, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” The key phrase that rings in my head almost daily is, “making the best use of the time . . . making the best use of the time.”
One thing that strikes me about this text is that it does not say, “making the best use of MY time.” I have been sobered over the past few weeks at how selfishly I handle THE time that has been given to me, as if it was MY time. The Lord has been gently reminding me that THE time belongs to Him; and that has implications for the way I go about the day, and the week, and the year.
I’m reminded of a passage earlier in Ephesians that says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” If I view THE time through the lens of lowliness, I realize that even before I was born, my Lord knew what He wanted to accomplish in and through me today. The day is not a blank slate waiting to be written on. The question is never, “What should I do today?” Rather, the day is a beautiful piece of poetry already composed for me by the Lover of my soul. The question is always, “What joyous work are you doing today, my Lord, that you invite me to join you in?”
As compelling as that image may be, I see two hindrances when it comes to putting it into practice. One is that I’m not sure I’m convinced that the Lord has specific works that He invites me to join Him in today. The second is that, even if He did, I’m not sure that He will show me what they are.
In light of this, I often find it easier to throw myself into the day, engaging in all kinds of activities in the hope that something will bear some fruit; that something will benefit the kingdom of God. But I’m caught up short when I read verse 17 of Ephesians 5, which says, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Ah. What a fool I can be, running around like a bunch of squirrels in December (see previous blog entry if that image makes no sense to you). Again, what a fool I can be! Thinking that I am making the best use of the time, I actually waste all kinds of time and energy giving myself to activities and endeavors that may have no connection whatsoever to the will of God for me today. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise . . . understand what the Lord’s will is.” But how do I do that?!?!
James chapter 1 is written to people who find themselves lost in the midst of trials. Chances are good that they have no idea what to do or where to turn. Why is this happening? Where is God in this? James encourages them to ask the Lord for wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
Although I am not fully convinced of it yet, I am starting to believe that the Lord invites me daily to come to Him for wisdom in making the best use of the time. I’m starting to believe that it is impossible for me to make the best use of the time unless I wait daily on the Lord for wisdom.
And, I’m starting to believe that it is a sign of true humility for me, not to simply dive into my day with no idea of where I’m going or what I’m doing; but rather, to quietly come before my Lord and ask Him to shine His light into the darkness of this evil day. Without the light of His wisdom guiding my steps, I will most certainly be swallowed by the evil day rather than walk victoriously through it.
3 comments:
These two verses from Ephesians are the theme and memory verses for our elementary ministries in January...God is a personality of order - If we are to be more like Him, we are to pray and discipline ourselves to orderliness as well. We continue to mature in the ordering of HIS time. Thanks for your great thoughts here - I'm making a copy of this for each of our elementary teachers this week.
The section of scripture God has directed my way for 2008 Phil 4:6-8
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." Great ways to spend time.
Nick, I love this, especially the log and speck part - the barriers of semantics an what cultural and ideological baggage come with words like "Bible," "cross," "Jesus," etc. I just went to an amazing conf in Jan re: "Insider" Mus. miss that helped me ID some ways to share about Isa alMasih in ways that are truly contextualized - the spiritual interactions I've had with my Mus. friends here in Atlanta have SO much farther and wider since - Accad's book Building Bridges is a good place to start - again, I'm SUCH a baby in this, but I'm in love with my ministry again and filled with new faith for lost sheep to be found!
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