Posted on 11/27/2024 2:42:10 PM PST by metmom
“Making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
Evil days call for good behavior.
The days we live in are certainly full of evil. Read any newspaper, and you’ll know what I mean. Can you imagine how it breaks God’s heart to create a perfect world, filled with every good thing, and then see it become as corrupt, debauched, and vile as it is today? Can you imagine how it must be for God to watch Christians who, in the midst of this evil world, are given opportunities to do good, yet bypass them without notice? The days are evil, and God gives us these opportunities to make things happen that matter—to fill up at least one moment of every day with something good, something righteous, something for Him.
“Because the days are evil,” the apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5:16, it’s important to walk wisely and make the most of our time. When opportunities for goodness do come, we should seize them. When God gives us an occasion to glorify Him (which in turn will bring a blessing on us), we must take the opportunity for His name’s sake. We must seize it in the midst of an evil day.
When I think of how God’s heart is broken over the evil of a world that He made for His own glory, I say to myself, If God gives me one small opportunity in the midst of an evil day to do something good, something to honor Him, or something to glorify Him, I’m going to grab that opportunity. Since the days are evil and it seems as though goodness is so scarce, you and I need to take every opportunity we can for manifesting goodness.
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask the Lord to help you be aware of more opportunities that you can seize for manifesting goodness.
For Further Study
According to Genesis 6:5, what did the Lord see in the days of Noah?
What effect did that have on God (v. 6)?
According to Hebrews 11:7, what did Noah do?
What effect did Noah have on the world?
From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
This is tough for me. I’ve been trying to pray in the morning asking that I do His will, not mine and to guide my thoughts, words and action, but truth be told, I like things my way. I know if I pray and focus o these things, they do happen. Good post.
Always good to read J Mac
Thanks mm.
“Thank You Jesus!”
.
Seems I look for Any Reason to
Say this out loud in simple ways
and Raise my Hands to the Heavens!
.
Immediately I think Not to take
That lightly but Know I’m proclaiming the King of the Universe!
Love me some Mac as well!
Amen to that brother!
Eternal God King of the universe!
I like to say, “This is the day the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!”, before I get out of bed each day. It really does help.
The Hour of Power !
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Originally from Psalms—?
I’m guessing 🤔
I (try to) do that, too.
I’ll often add *Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness*.
Yes, Psalm 118:24.
Also:
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25,26)
I’ll have to add that, too, although I am not a morning person and that might be a bit much on the brain until I get it very thoroughly memorized.
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