“…making best use of the time” – Colossians 4:5
“I can’t believe it’s Christmas time again.” I say that phrase every year. We all do. Each year spring gives way to summer, summer to fall, fall to winter, and before you know it you’ve made another trip around the sun. Time passes quickly, which is why the Apostle Paul reminded the Colossians to make the best use of it (4:5).
So, what should we do with our time as it speeds by? Paul had an answer for that question. He said, “walk in wisdom toward outsiders” (4:5). There is much to learn here. Paul had just asked the Colossian church to pray that God would open doors to “declare the mystery of Christ,” and that he would know how he “ought to speak” (4:3–4). Paul’s point to the Colossians was that time is short and they needed to do what he was doing, use their time wisely to declare the gospel of Christ. Paul’s point is my point. The years are flying by. We, you and me, only have a certain amount of time to declare the mystery of Christ to the world. We need to use our time wisely.
The holidays are a season of open doors for the gospel. “Christ” is a popular word in the culture at large. We hear it every time someone says, “Christmas.” People are more open to hearing about Christ or coming to a church service this time of year than they are any other time. In addition, the holidays provide opportunities to come alongside the lonely and the hurting and show them that Christ offers the comfort and peace they so desperately desire.
Eastern Hills, let us, each one of us, “walk in wisdom” this holiday season and look for the open doors in front of us. Time is short. Before you know it, this year will be gone and Christmas will be here all over again. What will you say you’ve done with the year? What if this time next year, looking back, you could say you introduced someone to Christ, maybe a friend, family member, co-worker, or even a complete stranger? What if you could say you made the “best use of the time”? You can, but you must start now. This is the day God gave you. This is the day to build friendships, to encourage spiritual conversations, to invite someone to church. Don’t let the year slip away until you find yourself saying, “I can’t believe it’s Christmas time again,” again. Let this be the year that you make the best use of the time and you declare the mystery of Christ in every place the Lord sends you.
Pastor Josh