Maximize Your Time

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1.17-19

I have several books of famous quotes and often, when writing sermons or devotionals like this one, I refer to them for a pithy nugget of truth. Here’s one from Benjamin Franklin referencing how we should conduct our lives: “Doest thou love life? Then do not squander time, for time is the stuff life is made of.”

There is a biblical truth in that statement: God has given each of us a certain number of days to make an impact in the world. Don’t waste a minute of it. I remember watching an old black and white western movie in which a father told his son to do his chores. The boy dawdled for a little bit and the father said, “Get on with it. Time’s awastin’!” Many professing Christ followers squander their time here on earth and do nothing that is of significance for the Kingdom.

The nugget of truth found in today’s passage is that while we are here in the world, what Peter called “exile”, God wants us to maximize our influence among others. 

Today begins a new day. Step into it with a renewed commitment to live it to the fullest for the sake of Christ.