Wise Use of Time

Scripture:

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world.  10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.”

Observation:

Jesus and the disciples had heard that Lazarus was gravely ill and there was a conversation among the group regarding their upcoming travels. After a couple of days Jesus suggested that they head back to Judea and the disciples reminded him that people there wanted to stone him. Jesus responded with this conversation about daylight and walking during the day. Somehow this response seems to be a bit disconnected, and yet it is not.

Jesus is the light and he knows that he will only be walking on this earth for a brief period of time. Just as the people of Jesus’ time knew that they had to accomplish their work during the hours of natural daylight, so he knew that he had to accomplish his work during his light. Until the end came, he would go about his mission. All travelers knew this — you traveled as long as there was light so that you could go as far as you could. You didn’t stop while the sun was still high in the sky and for Jesus the night of death had not yet come, so he pressed on.

The disciples were afraid of going to Judea. Why would Jesus be afraid? The sun was still shining, it was still the daylight of his journey and it wasn’t time to lay down and quit. If it was still daylight, then he would keep on working, making the most of all the opportunities that God laid before him. He was safe in his Father’s hand and so he went without fear traveling in the daylight of his ministry and into the land of his enemies.
   
Application:

We are given time — our own daylight. It is in the daylight of our time that we are to do all that we can for the kingdom. We are not to quit early, but we are to press on as long as we have been given the light. But the light must be that which we receive from the Lord. If we walk in the way of our own heart, if we follow our own course, then we will fall into temptation. Wise use of time is when we follow the light of his leading!

There will be enemies who will attempt to snare and distract us from the light of Christ. We are to live fearless of the enemies, working until the very end and trusting in the one who can shield us until we have finished his work. Jesus knew that he had to keep pressing on as long as there were opportunities.

So must we.

We are given the gift of time and opportunity — use it wisely. Go and walk in the path illuminated by the light of Jesus. It’s still day!

Prayer:

Lord, may I continue pressing on in your light today. Amen.


Thank you to Nazarene Publishing House and Keri Mitchell for helping to create and publish Reflecting the Image. This is not a devotional book, but rather a collection of thoughts and stories which lead us in the direction of reflecting Christ. Click on the image to take you to the NPH bookstore.The book is also available in Kindle format on Amazon.com.