Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
When I first moved out to Northome Minnesota, I really didn’t know what I was going to do for a living in order to support my family. I had turned away from a lot of decent paying jobs in larger cities and because I moved out to such a rural area, I wasn’t certain what would happen. But the first summer that we were there, we began picking Jack pine cones for the Minnesota State Nursery. We had found a nice little area out in the woods to pick, and in the back of my van I had a blue 55 gallon plastic barrel that we would fill up with heaping four gallon bucketfuls of cones. Eventually, little by little that barrel would fill up all the way to the top, and on the next day we would run them to the local DNR office to pick up our paycheck.
This reminds me of the Christian Life
Every single day is like picking up another pine cone and putting it into the barrel. All of the works that we are involved with are going to eventually add up, and the usage of our time is very important to God.
Ephesians 5:15-16 (KJB) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
When you redeem the time, you will use the new opportunities that you have been granted by God, to do what is good and right in His sight, and that is exactly what the Apostle Paul did with his life. In the past he had been trying to prevent the spread of Christianity, and even delivering believers to prison and punishments. But when he was baptized into the Christian faith, his entire life changed, and after he got forgiven for his past sins, he began planting Christian churches instead. When you redeem the time, you are compensating for the wasted hours of your past, by making up for them in the future, which is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It’s a complete transformation from what we used to be, into a brand new creature in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:1-2 (KJB) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Every day was another opportunity for the Apostle Paul to redeem the time, as he turned away people from the sinful works of darkness, and led them into the light of the Gospel.
Acts 26:16-20 (KJB) But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Each of us have come from a sinful past, and when we redeem the time we must fill up our days with good works, that repeat themselves over and over again, just like a pattern on a quilt.
Titus 2:7 (KJB) In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,….
We must completely reject the person that we were in our past, by turning from the deeds of darkness and walking in the light. We must also develop new friendships, with those who are submitting themselves to the will of God. The Apostle Peter even had to turn away from past relationships, because they were still abiding in their sins. To redeem the time for the sake of Christ Jesus, we must separate from all of the fruitless works of darkness, including each of those people who are still involved with them.
1 Peter 4:1-5 (KJB) Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
The Christian Life is a day by day walk with God, and there’s quite a bit that you can do in 24 hours. Our precious Lord Jesus was filled up with good works.
John 21:25 (KJB) And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Just as we used our time for the wrong things, we now must be zealous in bringing forth good works.
Titus 2:12-14 (KJB) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
So we must be wise with the time that we have been given, because every moment matters to God. The good works that you do during your day are going to add up, just like dumping another four gallon bucket, into,….
…..The Barrel of Cones
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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