See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. {Ephesians 5:15-17}
If you value something and you want something done, you’re going to make time for it. If it’s truly important to you, you’re going to find the time. Whether it’s to cut down on things that are less important in your life, like watching TV or spending a lot of time on social media, or getting up earlier than you normally would, you will do it. You will make time and find the time to do what is important to you.
Our walk with God is the most important thing we can ever invest in. It is the greatest thing we can ever do for ourselves. But I know it’s easier said than done. I know we all want it and wish we could do it. I know we know it’s important. But when it all comes down to reality and to putting actions into our words, we all fail. We all cry out, “I don’t have time!”
The enemy of our soul is like a roaring lion seeking whom he will devour. The Devil’s time is precious to him too, and it is almost up. He doesn’t have a lot of time left to deceive us, and to cause us to be lost and be damned forever with him. He and his cohorts are working really hard now more than ever in the history of mankind, to snare every single soul that is on this planet earth away from God. He has the same time as you and I, twenty-four hours in a day. The only difference is he’s a spirit and he can be up all night long too. Yes, he has a little bit more time than we do, and he is working every second to get people across the whole world to be snared away and to take us away from God. Knowing this then, what are we going to do about it? Are we just going to sit back, relax and let whatever happens happens? Or are we going to stand up, take our place in the kingdom of God and fight back? We really have no other choice except to fight back. If we sit back and relax and let Satan do what he wants to do, we are guaranteed to lose. He is going to win and he will take our soul along with him. No, we’re not going to let that happen to ourselves, to our families, and to our friends. We have to fight back in prayer. The good news is we’re not alone if we decide to fight back. The Lord will be here with us and will be for us. He will not let us fight alone, but we have to be willing to work with Him. We have to be listening and taking the time to be with Him, so that we know what we need to do at all times. When Satan is snaring you, you will come to know this and you’re not going to being taken in. You will know exactly when he’s doing it and when it’s happening. And you will be able to resist him because you are talking to the Lord.
The key thing is to make time for God. Make time for what is the most important thing we can ever do in this life – talking to Jesus Christ. Without Him we are lost. We are nothing and can do nothing without the Lord. Jesus tells us in His word,
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. {John 15:4-5}
If we are ever going to make it to eternity to be with Jesus it is imperative that we make the time for Him. We cannot bear God’s fruits on our own. We cannot be the vessel that the Lord wants for us to be if we’re not talking to Him. Can you imagine falling in love and getting married to someone and not making the time talking to them or interacting with them? Why then did you even come together in the first place? Can you even imagine a marriage that will last if the couple doesn’t spend time with each other? Do you know that we, the children of God, are the Bride of Christ? That means we are betrothed to Him. It means, we are engaged to be married to Him spiritually. Can you imagine being married to someone you don’t know? Neither will the Lord. We don’t want to be the one He turns to and say, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” {Matthew 7:23} The only way to know the Lord is to talk to Him – all the time.
We cannot save our own selves without talking to Jesus. I know there are some of us out there who think reading the Bible, listening to preaching and going to church or reading about God are enough to get us saved. If that is the case then the Lord wouldn’t admonish us to abide in Him or spend time with Him. He wouldn’t tell us to “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” {Matthew 11:29} Reading the Bible alone will not cleanse us of our sins. Unless we confess our sins to the Lord and ask Him to forgive us and take our sins away, we will be lost. Remember what John said,
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” {1 John 1:9}
It is important that we confess our sins to the Lord. It is important we take the time to talk to Him. Going to church alone is not going to cut it. Reading about God, like reading this blog post is not enough. We have to talk to Him. We have to spend time knowing who He is. Like I said before, can you imagine knowing someone without talking to them? You can read about them on their website or if they have an autobiography or even subscribe to their social media, but if you’ve not met them and talked to them then you do not know them. If they do not know you how can you say you know them?
Likewise if we’re not talking to the Lord we will not know Him, neither will He know us. If we were able to save ourselves without the help of the Lord, then what’s the point of Him coming to die for our sins for at the cross and giving us His Holy Spirit to be available for us today? Why would He then tell us to come to Him and find our rest in Him? The Bible wouldn’t tell us to,
Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually. {1 Chronicles 16:11}
We need to talk to Him because He has to save us. We need Him to save us. We could be going around ignorant of some sins in our lives. We could be walking around with spots and blemishes in our spiritual life before God and we don’t even know it. The Bible tells us and admonishes us:
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. {Ephesians 5:3-7}
How are we going to keep up with all of these things the Bible tells us to stay away from? There is no way we can remember it all. The only way to be cleansed is to talk to Jesus Christ. The only way to be holy is to draw near to the One who is holy, and who can make us holy and pure and perfect before Him. We need to be confessing and repenting before the Lord always. We need to be clearing ourselves and making ourselves known to Him. There’s no need to be afraid or to hide from the Lord, because He loves us so much. His desire is to save us and cleanse us from all of our unrighteousness. He will never condemn us or turn us away. His love is so great He died for this very reason, to save us from our sins. The only important thing is we need to make time for Him. We have to take the time to talk to Him. It is the most important thing we can ever do in this life.
“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and followMe.” {Luke 9:23}
Prayer
Father, I thank You for Your great and boundless love for me today. I thank You because You overcame the cross for my sake. I thank You that You will not turn me away from You if I choose to come to You. Thank You because You will be here for me until the end. I love You, Jesus.
Father, I pray that You will help me to understand the importance of talking to You. Help me to see that on my own I could never save myself from this ungodly and untoward generation. On my own I will never be able to resist the power of Satan and his plots against me. Please Jesus, help me to make time and find the time to talk to You. Help me to make it into a habit. Help me to come and love You more and more and talk to You more and more, for it is the greatest thing I can ever do in this life. I ask this in Your most wonderful and powerful name, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.
Rp11/2018
