Our Daily Bread - Do Something With Nothing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0h77o4L58w
A newspaper ad showed three people waiting for a city bus. Two of them were bored and listless, while the third was happily playing a game on a small electronic device. Do something with your nothing, the ad said. That nothing time. The time in between everything else you have to do. The idea was to sell the portable player so people could use all those segments of wasted waiting time.
I suspect that many of us already constructively use those small increments of waiting time to read a book, memorize a verse, or pray for a friend. Its our longer waiting periods filled with uncertainty and indecision that may leave us anxious and frustrated.
Paul challenged the Christians in Ephesus to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Eph. 5:9-21).
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[a]is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“ Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
The Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest suggests that this refers to time in its strategic, opportune seasons and means making a wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good.
During those seasons when we wonder, How did I get here and when can I leave? its best to look for our God-given opportunities instead of focusing on the obstacles. Thats the way to do something with our nothing. — David C. McCasland
Wait and, in waiting, listen for His leading;
Be strong, thy strength for every day is stored.
Go forth in faith, and let thine heart take courage;
There is no disappointment with the Lord. —Anon.
When you find time on your hands, put them together in prayer.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
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