Daily Devotionals

The End Week 3: Friday

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5: 16-17

The older I become, the more I discover what a rare and precious gift that time is. When I was a kid, I assumed I had all the time in the world to do anything and get anything done. I have since found that this assumption could not be further from the truth. Time is fleeting, and because of this, we have to make the most of the time that we do have. This is especially important as we think about our faith. Time is precious; we must make the most of it by growing in our faith and sharing Jesus with others.

Satan does everything in His power to convince us that we have plenty of time and distract us. As we have seen in our Bible study together, if you have followed along with us this week, we do not have unlimited time because Jesus is coming back, and He will return at an unexpected time. Because of this, we have to live in a focused and alert way. Paul warns us of living distracted lifestyles in Ephesians 5. He writes, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise” (verse 15). In other words, exercise caution. Be thoughtful and considerate in the way that you live. Paul continues, saying, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do” (verse 16). In a world corrupted by sin and shame, we are to live intentionally and make the most of our short time here on earth. 

Friends, time is impossibly short. At the moment, we may feel like we have an unlimited amount of time, but the truth is that time is limited. The time we have now is a precious gift. Are we using it well? Let’s choose to be intentional daily with the precious time we have been given.

Moving toward action

Take some time now to pray. Ask God to give you the perspective that time is short, and pray that He will help you take your short time on this earth seriously. Ask Him to give you a heart for the lost and pray for the people in your life who are far from Christ.

Going Deeper

Ephesians 5:1-16 (NLT)

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."