Time is of the Essence

 

Ephesians 5:15-16 "Be very careful then, how you live-not as unwise, but wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

Time is of the essence. The Lord placed this phrase on my heart to write about for this post. I've heard this phrase before but to be honest, I wasn't sure what it actually meant. I looked up the meaning and this is what I found. Time is of the essence is used in contracts. Two or more parties agree on a set deadline to get a job done. If one or more of the parties causes a breech of contract, because they failed to get the job done. Then they will have to deal with the consequences stated and agreed upon in the contract.  

The scripture above (Ephesians 5:15-16) comes close to this phrase. Each of us have one life to live here on earth. We need to be careful to live our lives wisely, and make the most of every opportunity. In other words each of us only have so much time to do the work that God has called us to do. None of us know how many days/years we have before God decides that our time is up on this earth.

Job14:5 "A person's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed."

We need to make wise choices, and stay alert and look for open doors to be an example of Jesus by our words and actions. When the Lord has placed something on our heart to do, pray about it first to make sure its from the Lord, and wait for the Lord's guidance. 

When the Holy Spirit is leading you to do it, time is of the essence. Don't wait too long, because God has a plan, that person or group of people you are to speak to, may not have much time left. They may be getting ready to make a wrong decision, or maybe they are on their deathbed.

Jesus gave us the great commission to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. In a sense this is our "contract" with the Lord. In this "contract" if we cause a breech, then the consequences that we face are missed blessings from the Lord. The Lord knows our hearts, he knows what our intent is. But, its easy to get distracted and miss what the Lord wanted us to say or do.

Matthew 28:18-20  "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

It's important to remember, everyone makes mistakes. That's why Jesus Christ died for you on the cross. He is perfect, you are not. His blood cleanses you from all of your sins, your unrighteousness. Don't allow your mistakes to keep you from doing the work that God has placed in your heart. Confess your mistakes (sins) to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. God will bring you more opportunities to serve him. 

Useful or Useless

 

Philemon 1:11 "Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me."

In this passage of scripture Paul is talking about Onesimus. Onesimus was one of Philemon's slaves who escaped to Rome. I believe that it was God's plan that Onesimus escaped to Rome, the place that Paul was being held prisoner. God used Paul to lead Onesimus to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. 

Paul referred to Onesimus as his son, because he thought of each person that he led to salvation in Jesus Christ as his children. When we are saved we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible refers to Christians as the body of Christ, a family. (1Corinthians 12:27)

Paul referred to Onesimus as formerly being useless, then he became useful. What he meant by this was he was useless because he didn't have faith in Jesus Christ yet. So, he wasn't teaching others about Jesus. After Onesimus was saved, he became useful because he was now able to teach others about the message of Jesus Christ.

God has a purpose for your life. God has gifted you with skills and natural talents. When you are saved He will also give you spiritual gifts, through his Holy Spirit. It is up to you to decide if you will be useful to others with each of your skills, talents and spiritual gifts, that God has given to you. Or if you let those skills, talents and gifts lay dormant and become useless. 

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, and to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues. All of these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."

It takes time to learn what your spiritual gifts are, and how to use each gift. Some gifts you will know right away, others will take some time to manifest. Pray and ask God to direct you in the right path to find out what your gifts are, and how to use them. 

Romans 12:4-6 "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us..." 

Try not to compare yourself with other people. For example, if a friend has the gift of healing, don't allow yourself to think you aren't as important or doing very much for the Lord if your gift is faith. Each gift is important. Just as the passage in Romans 12:4-6 states, God gives gifts to each of His children to work together as one body. The body of Christ. 

You are loved by God your creator. He wants you to live a life full of peace, joy and love. He has given you the skills, talents and spiritual gifts that He has chosen just for you. Pray for God to help you learn what your spiritual gifts are, and how to use them. Pray and ask that he helps you to be useful with your gifts and talents and not useless. 

Treasure

 

2 Corinthians 4:6-7  "For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

The imagery of this scripture in my mind is beautiful. God has given us (jars of clay) His light. God loves us so much he has given us the best treasure. Earthly treasure rusts and fades away. But, God's treasure is precious, eternal. 

When we acquire this treasure we need to share it with others. God's light is to be seen through us, we should be like a beacon. A beacon that draws people in, so that they will experience the love of God; that pours out from us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Sometimes, as humans its easy to get caught up in our emotions. We will have confrontations with other people who will try to extinguish the light shining in us. We need to be careful to not allow that to happen, because that is exactly what the devil would love to do to us. 

Ephesians 4:26-27 "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."

There are many treasures that God has given to us to enjoy here on earth. Don't put your trust and hope in earthly treasures, where moth and rust can destroy. Seek the most precious, eternal treasure, that we have in Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also."