MAKING THE BEST OF TIME

Shepherd’s Guidance 9/2020

22 April 2020

 

Making the Best of Time

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16)

 

We are ordered to stay at home since 18 March 2020. Many people are not allowed to go to work outside the house in order to contain the spread of pandemic Covid-19. They have to work from home, if possible. Students also need to stay at home. We save a lot of time in commuting. This is a good time for us to catch up on our daily reading   through the Scriptures in a year. We are able to read a few chapters a day. This will help us to have an overview of the Old and New Testaments. This is very important for proper understanding. Partial understanding of the Bible contribute to misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the Bible. This is dangerous.

 

The believing parents can lead their children to read the Bible aloud in the evening time. This will help the next generation to be familiar with God’s Word. It will help them to follow the sermon they hear every Lord's Day. Simple things like these help to pass on the faith to next generation. There is no short cut about it. We lay a bit of foundation daily. We pray that the Spirit of God will use the Word read daily to work in the lives of next generation. The Holy Spirit always used the Holy Word to accomplish the purpose of God. Some young men who have gone astray later in life, were reminded of God’s Word that they heard in the early days and were led to repentance towards God. Hence their waywardness was turned around and saved from destruction. Otherwise the evils that come along will bring them much troubles and sorrows. The hymn writer  John  Newton was one example. He remembered the Scriptures in his lostness and pleaded with the Lord to save. Those were the Scriptures he learnt in his home under his mother. May the Lord help spiritual heritage stay with our next generation.

 

There are challenges along the way when going through the Scriptures. Some chapters may be too long, some may be hard to understand. Some are filled with unfamiliar names and some seems to be repetative. The journey seems to be boring at times and we are tempted to stop. We all face the same difficulties.May the Lord help us to persevere , let us hang on. Do not give up. We shall be rewarded in due time. This is a fruitful exercise. No one will regret of going through this exercise. It will help us to be discerning when we are bombarded with so many kinds of teachings in the name of God. The knowledge of truth will set us free from errors. Who knows we may help to point others to the right way also. Remember the enemies of soul know how to quote scripture partially to mislead us. Be prepared. The spiritual warfare is on and we see many casualties.

 

It is important to meditate on the scriptural lessons we have learnt. Meditation takes time and effort. We can think of God’s Word at any time of the day. With the help of God’s Spirit, meditation gives us hope and strength. We also can learn from the history of the covenant people of God. Pitfalls are to be avoided and faith in divine promises is encouraged. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Corinthians 10:11). When the Scriptures go at length for certain records, it ought to catch our attention. We do well to learn from the past.

 

Some people may have difficulties in reading God’s Word. This may due to childhood background or aging process. They can use devices that can read God’s Word aloud. "So then faith  cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). We are thankful that such help comes easily nowadays. As long as we have the desire for God’s Word, there will be a way for us to hear. Not all can read but all can hear God’s Word in a language that they are familiar to. Thank God for such opportunity. None should turn away from such help and be blest. Blessed are those who read and hear God’s Word. It will help us to please the Lord. May God’s will be done in our lives and we be used to bring others to the Lord. Open your Bible daily, keep on reading through it.

 

"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (1 Peter 1:24-25).

 

Rev. Lee Kim Shong