Page 57 - Principles for Discipling Others-Student textbook

This is what is meant by “redeeming the time.” We are trying to use our spiritual gifts, time, energy, and
finances to help friends, neighbors, and other lost souls to find the same peace, joy, and eternal life that
we have found. May God help us to do it!

Time Management: making the most of your minutes…

Two anonymous quotes come down to us regarding this
subject:

“Only one life…’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last!”

“I have just a minute;
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can’t refuse it;
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it…
I must suffer if I lose it….
Give account if I abuse it;
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.”

We will give an account of how we use our time.

Think about this verse:

Romans 14:12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

In context, this verse talks about a day we shall stand before the Lord and give an account of our works
to God. The preceding verses talked about passing judgment on others when you need to judge
yourself. Have you ever wondered what this accounting will involve?

1. It won’t be a judgment for our sin. Psalm 103:12 says that “as far as the east is from the west, so far
does he remove our transgressions from us.” The Bible says that when we were justified by God when
we by faith believed in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and applied it to our lives. At that moment
we were declared righteous before a holy God. And it is not our righteousness, but the righteousness of
Christ presented on our behalf of us to the just Judge. This is an amazing verse to ponder:

II Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God.

2. God has a special plan and many responsibilities He wants us to accomplish on His behalf. He will
give us a limited time to accomplish this plan and He will empower us to accomplish it completely, if we
will be willing to comply with the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

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