While I’m studying Paul through the scholarship of N.T. Wright, there was a thought so powerful that I stopped reading. Made a note. Then just paused and contemplated for a while.
Paul thought that God worked through us. God revealed his glory through Jesus. Jesus expected his work after his ascension to be done through us.
Hit pause. Hit rewind. Hit play.
What does that mean?
It surely sounds like an awesome responsibility, doesn’t it,
What have we done with our time? I have a lot of time to look back on. Some of you more. What use have we made of that time to do God’s work?
I was just listening to Andy Stanly talk about making a wise use of our time. Our time “keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.” (Steve Miller Band)
Our pastor is in the middle of a series on setting goals. Goals are OK. But really, what counts is our schedule. What do we do with that time?
Better than a goal of “I’ll invite 100 people to church this week,” would be, “I’ll set aside 30 minutes, and write it in ink on my calendar, three days a week to call people to invite into a relationship.” The key–write it, in ink.
Try getting out a calendar–paper, digital, whatever. Get the one-week view. Block out what you do each day in the week.
5:30, arise, fix coffee, get out my Bible
5:45-6:00, read Bible
6:00-6:15, pray, meditate
7:00-8:00, exercise/workout/run whatever
then, work, phone calls, planning, time with family
Take a look at where your week goes now. Then plan with intention to structure a week where you attend to your spiritual health, your physical health, your relationships, your God work, your community service.
Grab control of your time. Don’t let it slip away.
Faith Venture 
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