40 Days of Purpose Preview
What on Earth Am I Here For?
We'll answer this question and more during our 40 Days of Purpose Journey.
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Monday, October 6, 2003
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me and redeeming me, through the precious blood of Your Son Jesus, who willingly gave His life that I may have a new life through Him! As I prepare myself for the 40 Days of Purpose, I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit that every minute of every day will be filled with Your purpose for me. Give me the commitment of my will to make and follow through with wise decisions that will permit me to redeem the minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years of my life. I pray that in all that I am and all that I do this day You will be glorified and honored. This I pray in Jesus’ name, and for the sake of His coming Kingdom. Amen.
Bible Verses
Ephesians 5:15-21
15So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. [literally: Therefore, consider(see) carefully how you walk/live, not as unwise ones, but as wise ones.] 16Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days [literally: redeeming (buying) the time (καιρόν—God’s time, this is as opposed to χρόνος—which is clock time.” because the days are evil]. 17Don’t act thoughtlessly [literally: Therefore, Don’t be mindless], but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do. [but understand the will of the Lord.] 18Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. 19Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Reflecting on The Scripture
What, does it mean to you to “redeem” the time?
What is the most important thing you will do today? What does it have to do with redeeming the time?
Exploring The Scripture
What comparisons and contrasts does Paul offer us in today’s Scripture? (For example, the comparison/contrast between fools and wise.) (5:15-21)
What does God provide as we seek to “redeem the time”? (5:18)
When does Paul say we are to give thanks to God for everything that happens in our lives? (5:18-21)
Understanding The Scripture
Why do you suppose that Paul tells us that the first result of our being filled with the Holy Spirit is singing to the Lord?
Applying The Scripture
What one action do you need to take as a result of reading today’s Scripture?
Don't Waste Your Life!
In just six days we will embark on our 40 day spiritual adventure—40 Days of Purpose! Yesterday, we focused on not wasting our lives, through the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:15-21. We pick up today where we left off yesterday, considering what it means to “redeem the time.” The reality is at every moment we have the opportunity to redeem the time—to choose to do something godly with our lives, or simply to waste the precious gift of time, which God offers us. Every minute of our lives is a one time gift from God. We may “invest” it in that which will make an impact for eternity, or “spend” it on worldly concerns. Our culture constantly bombards us with invitations to buy into the world’s priorities of “looking out for #1,” putting ourselves first, indulging every whim and desire of life whether good or evil. Paul tells us that as we redeem the time, relying on the filling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the result will be quite different! We will sing praises to God in groups of Christians and on our own. We will give thanks to God for everything that comes to us in life. We will submit to one another out of our reverence for Jesus. Such activities are “counter-cultural.” They flow against the tide of our consumer-driven culture. They also make it evident to others that life IS more than pursuing the motto that “The one who dies with the most toys wins.” The reality is the one who dies with the most toys still dies, therefore, we must invest our lives not in toys but in that which will withstand the test of eternity! 40 Days of Purpose will help us see that God has made us for five very specific purposes, and that as we pursue them intentionally in our lives, we will, indeed, redeem the time, and make the most we possibly can of life. Continue to pray for how God is leading you to participate in 40 Days of Purpose. Plan to be at each of our worship services during the coming six weeks. Get involved in a LIFE group, and be sure to pick up your copy of the Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, which will serve as our daily readings throughout the forty days. As you “invest” yourself in these next 40 Days of purpose, you will be redeeming the time, and making an impact for eternity!
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