TODAY’S VERSES:
Ephesians 5:15-16 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
You have finished another school year! Summer is here, the days are longer, and you do not have to wake up early! What are you going to do with all of this extra time you have been given? Do you have family vacations planned? Are you going off to summer camp? Maybe you are just looking forward to playing outside and spending time with your friends and family. All of this sounds amazing! What does the Bible say we should be doing with our summer? In today’s verses, we are all told to make the best use of our time. So, what exactly is the “best use” of our time? We can find answers to all of our questions in the Bible, so let us look there!
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
We are told to seek God before everything else. This means that each day our priority should be God and His will. How do we do that?
Deuteronomy 8:3 “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
We are to be reading our Bibles every day! The Word of God is compared to food in the verse above. How often do we eat? Daily, right? Ok, so we read our Bibles every day, what else?
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
Not only are we to read the Word daily, but we must also be praying. We should be talking with the Lord, asking for His guidance, and spending our days with Him. So, we spend time with the Lord, praying and reading our Bibles. That is wonderful, but what else?
John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
We are to be treating the people in our lives with love, kindness, and patience. We are to be unselfish, not putting our desires above those of others, seeking ways to show God’s love. So, what does that look like? Maybe what you really want to do with your day is sleep in until noon, play video games, then go back to bed. Well, what about everyone else? Your mom could probably use your help keeping the house clean, doing laundry, or making the food that all of you eat, right? Your siblings may want to spend some time with you. Our lives are to be lived for the Lord and others. Just because it is summer does not mean that we get “time off” from doing what is right in God’s eyes. So, please enjoy your summer, but do not forget to spend your time wisely.