We recently changed to Daylight Savings Time and it has set my mind to thinking about time. Time is a precious item and as we yearn for more time and try to manage time and strive to master time through schedules…maybe we do not stop long enough to understand the value of time.
1. To know the value of one year…ask the student who failed the final exam.
2. To know the value of one month…ask the mother of a premature baby.
3. To know the value of one week…ask the editor of a weekly news magazine.
4. To know the value of one day…ask the wage earner who has six children.
5. To know the value of one hour…ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
6. To know the value of one second…ask the person who survived the accident.
Time is precious. Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I need more time?” Well, you’re not going to get it. No one gets more time. There are 1,440 minutes in a day. No matter what you do, you wont’ get more today. Time moves forward regardless of circumstances and, in the game of life, creates a level playing field for everyone. Since you can’t change time, you must instead change your approach to it. (John C. Maxwell, Today Matters, pages 66-67)
How are we spending our time? For some the glory of Easter comes and goes on Easter Sunday. For God and the church, Easter signals a beginning rather than an ending. The end of the story is not the Lord’s resurrection. That’s the start! Our entry into the Christ-story comes post-resurrection as the life of the church is built on the witness of disciples who loved the Lord. The church continues to be built upon the witness of disciples who love the Lord. Can we make room for the church in our calendar? Can we find time to pray? Is there time to read the Bible? Can we employ ourselves in some form of mission? Will those who can sing make time to share their voices in the choir? Will more youth come on Sunday evenings and help the you group that is growing grow more? Can we consider teaching Sunday School? Can we invite those we know are not churched to come to church? Can we make time on Wednesday evenings to join in fellow-ship with our Church family?
These are good ways to demonstrate that with Easter’s beginning comes new devotion to Christ and his Church. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to establish something new in our Easter Time? While much of Christendom seems to take a break from church following Easter, wouldn’t it be great if we altered that trend?
Ken