DECEMBER 13 – Reading 347

by John Pra | December 13

“OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS”
(Ephesians 4:1 – 6:24)

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” – Ephesians 5:15-16

Time is one of God’s most generous gifts and one of our most easily wasted treasures. Paul calls believers to redeem the time — to buy it back, to rescue it from captivity, to treat each hour as something that must be seized with intention and purpose. The days we live in are evil, full of distractions, diversions, and temptations that quietly drain our spiritual strength. If we drift, we will be carried downstream. But if we walk wisely, we can transform ordinary moments into offerings of worship.

We are reminded repeatedly in scripture of time’s brevity. Job said his days were “swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.” James calls life a “mist.” And Jesus Himself modeled a life of holy intentionality — resting at times, reclining at tables, but never aimless. Every step was purposeful. Every conversation carried weight. Every moment honored the Father’s will.

The great preacher/theologian, Jonathan Edwards, wrote that time is exceedingly precious because eternity hangs on how we use it. Salvation happens in time. Sanctification happens in time. Every step in our race of faith is run on the track of days and minutes God has given. Time is short, uncertain, and unrecoverable — a divine meal prepared once, set before us only in that moment. Yesterday’s plate cannot be tasted again. Tomorrow’s meal is not guaranteed.

But what about the regret I feel for the days or years that I’ve squandered? Take hope. God is gracious. Though we cannot reclaim wasted years, He promises in Joel 2:25, “I will restore the years the locust has eaten,” for those who repent and return with renewed zeal. The answer to conviction is not despair but determination — not lying down as the field burns, but rising up to save what remains.

To redeem the time means to live each day with holy clarity: “What is God’s will for me today? What pleases Him in this hour?” It means waking up with resolve, working with purpose, loving with focus, and resting with intention. Every season — youth, parenthood, singleness, labor, retirement, sickness — offers unique opportunities to glorify Christ. None of them last long. All of them matter.

Application:

• Prioritize What Matters Most – Identify the eternal priorities God has given you – His Word, prayer, relationships, service – and intentionally give them the first and best portions of your time.

   

• Live Each Day on Mission – Begin every morning asking, “Lord, what is Your will for me today?” Treat each day as a God-given assignment. Build holy rhythms. Create regular habits that shape your days toward Christlikeness. Healthy rhythms redeem drifting time.

Closing Prayer:
Father, teach me to see every moment as a gift from You. Help me to live my days with wisdom, purpose, and devotion. Where I have wasted time, forgive me; where I have drifted, restore my focus; where I feel weak, strengthen me by Your Spirit. Lead me to use my days for Your glory, the good of others, and the advance of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.