Ephesians 5:15-17 English Standard Version (ESV)

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. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Here is a profound truth many reject. All we have is time.

John 3:35 English Standard Version (ESV) The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

We are but stewards of the Lord to care after those things which belong to Him.

1 Timothy 1:4b-5 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ ….. which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. ⁵ The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Words that could be a distraction from stewardship have been eliminated to focus on the real issue at hand. Our stewardship is a duty and that duty is to love. We are to love the lost and each other, not things of this world.

We buy new cars and trade them in to buy new cars. Everything we want in this world comes at a cost. The only thing we get to spend without cost is time. When we accept a job offer for an hourly wage, we sell our time as much as our skills. Jobs, like cars, houses, clothes and furnishings are replaceable and are often discarded for a better offer.

All things in the world are replaceable, except time. Once spent it cannot be replaced.

Do we spend our time wisely or spend it on things that promote speculation and cause us to waste time that could be better put to use in practicing love as a good steward is called to do?

While pondering that, give heed to this thought, spending time in the pursuit of like interests foster trust in friendships needed to share the gospel.

Colossians 3:15 English Standard Version (ESV) And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

VOTD is verse of the day, from Biblegateway.

Not today. Being sleep deprived makes it very difficult to maintain peace in the heart. Praying doesn’t seem to help. There are too many little annoyances one after the other after the other.

That does not give us any right to take it out on others. It must be someone’s fault. That is the flesh reacting poorly, even if it is true.

We are all called into one body so if one part suffers the whole body suffers but it isn’t fair to inflict our pain on others.

At this time perhaps the peace of Christ is being given the strength to not scream.

The resolve to do even normal routines is weakened due to lack of sleep. Quality of effort shows lack of sleep. Perhaps the peace of Christ when sleep deprived is making the effort even when you do not feel like it.

In season and out of season, right?

Maybe we are not alone in all this.