Scripture Verses
Matthew 24:36-51
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Devotion
Time is a valuable commodity. We are all blessed with 24 hours each day to spend as we choose. God is an equal opportunity time giver. No person is given more or less than any other person. What we choose to do with our time is our choice. After we factor out the time we spend to sustain life such as food consumption and nocturnal rest, several hours remain to do the work of God’s Kingdom. As a teacher, I often mark on a report card that a student does not use time wisely. What is God marking on your report card? Are you on God’s Honor Roll? Will your name be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Never put off until tomorrow what can and should be done today. In the first place, your God-given mission opportunity may not exist tomorrow. Secondly, for reasons beyond your control, in the future you might not be in a position physically or financially to accomplish a task that God wants you to do. Seize the moment! Take control of your life in a way that pleases God. There is no guarantee that you will have tomorrow to catch up on God’s chores. Maybe it will be an automobile accident caused by an impaired driver, or perhaps the growth of cancer cells that causes an untimely death. No doubt many Americans wished that they had had different priorities on September 11, 2001. This 2009 Lenten season is as good a time as any to prioritize your own life. Make decisions concerning time management God-centered. Live every day for Jesus and be ready for those sweet words at the Pearly Gates, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
Prayer
Prayer: Help us in our fast paced world to prioritize our time in a way that is pleasing to you. Show us the things that you want us to do and to provide the resources we need to make your Kingdom here on Earth awesome.
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