We spend our money on the things that matter the most to us. Likewise, we spend our time on those things we feel are the most important to us. If you want to know about a person, all you must know is where they spend their money and time, and that will tell all about who they are.
Spend your time wisely, knowing you only get so much time to spend. “Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. Use your time well, for these are evil days” (Ephesians 5:15-16 CJB).
Consider this: what part of your life did Jesus die on the Cross that He might be your salvation. I will tell you the answer, He gave all of Himself, and He expects the same from you. He isn’t looking to reign over part of your life but over all your life. Jesus wants you to be all in.
God won’t bless that part of your life you have not yet surrendered to Him. “Jesus said to all of his followers, ‘If you truly desire to be my disciple, you must disown your life completely, embrace my ‘cross’ as your own, and surrender to my ways’” (Luke 9:23 TPT).
There is much going on in the life of a believer. We have our families whom we spend time with, and we have our jobs in which we work to earn a living. We have our churches in which we worship, and we have ministries in which we serve. Too often, we compartmentalize our life into different sections, but it is the same life in each one of them.
Holiness is not a part-time calling but a way of life. “…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV).
When Christ is in you, then He will shine through you no matter where you are. There is no such thing as a part-time filling of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit of Christ illuminates through the life of a saint, it will shine, whether it be in the church or out in the darkness of the world. Christ is light never-ending.
The darkness we are in may be so others can see the light within us. “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15 AMP).
Too often, we adapt to our surroundings, thinking we must do so because of the natural world that we live in. While it is true that we may not be able to preach the gospel in our workplaces with our words, there is never a reason why we cannot preach the gospel anywhere we are by the way in which we live our lives. What we live speaks louder than words.
Faith lived is the gospel preached. “Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right” (Proverbs 20:11 NKJV).
In the world, we are surrounded by unbelievers. There are people that we know who have nobody that might reach them, if we ourselves are not willing to do so. We often struggle with what we might say or do in order to reach them. Yet all we must do is pray that the Lord would help us.
The higher faith is not limited to those who are able but to those who are willing. “If you have a willing heart to let me help you, and if you will obey me, you will feast on the blessings of an abundant harvest” (Isaiah 1:19 TPT).
Don’t you know that when you serve the Lord, He will always help you? The problem we have is we think we must serve Him in our power. Our power only gets in His way. If we are willing, then it is He who is able to work through us in reaching those who need Him the most.
Divine power flows in natural weakness. Jesus told the apostle Paul, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 CJB).
Every day the Lord places people in your path. Whether it be at work or in a store, the Lord has given you opportunities to minister to those who need Him. The lost and the broken are desperate for help and don’t know where to find it. You might be that last ray of hope that someone needs today.
Yield your life that it would be a lamp from which God could shine His light onto a darkened world. “In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights, holding out to them the Word of Life…” (Philippians 2:14-16 TLB).
There is no natural talent necessary to serve God because serving God is better stated as surrendering to God. When a person is rightly related to God, they have given all of their life to Him. The Lord is not looking for a captain but a ship in which He might sail into the ocean.
You will do more of God’s work not by striving more but by surrendering more. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NLT).
Whatever you do and wherever you are, tell God that you are ready to serve Him. Let your life be a prayer, and let your every breath be a praise so that the Lord would work mightily through you. Consider that soul of whom God has ordained that He might reach someday through you.
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius