Saturday, September 19, 2009
Ephesians 5:20 . . . always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
CHRIST USED HIS TIME WISELY!
In only a brief examination of ourselves we can tell that we have not taken full advantage of our time on this earth. We have not lived every moment to the glory of God, and in light of this we recognize more and more that we need our Savior Jesus Christ.
He used His time wisely! When He was only twelve He was in the temple at Jerusalem asking questions of the teachers there, growing in knowledge and understanding. When He began His ministry at the age of 30, He spent three years busily preaching and teaching.
But His proper use of time is more than just an example for us. Jesus was using His time to redeem us; using His time to prepare Himself and those around Him for Good Friday where He would offer His own life to the Father in heaven as a sacrifice for the failures of the world. Christ spent His time doing the Father's business--taking Himself toward Jerusalem where He was ridiculed and put to death, crucified in our place upon the altar of God's justice. He used His time wisely when He was tempted, turning to the Scriptures for strength, knowing that it was God's will that He should lead a perfect life in our place. He used His time wisely for us when He kept a clear head in every situation, always sober, always able to answer and to witness to those around Him, never taking His eye off the goal that He had been sent to reach. His wisdom means your freedom, your forgiveness.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good! Our God is wisdom itself. Our God who used His time to send His only Son to be our Savior--that we might live always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.
But Thou hast raised me up To joy and exultation
And clearly shown the way That leads me to salvation.
My sins are washed away, For this I thank Thee, Lord;
And with my heart and soul All dead works are abhorred.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 417:4)
