THIS IS YOUR LIFE, MAKE THE MOST OF IT! (8 OF 10)
by Joe Alain
Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20
This content is part of a series.
This Is Your Life, Make the Most of It! (8 of 10)
Series: Ephesians
Joe Alain
Ephesians 5:15-20
Just like the Apostle Paul in his day, we face serious and urgent challenges in our world today. It is obvious even to the casual observer that many aspects of the society in which we live are characterized by a growing ungodliness. People have rebelled against God and they, and our culture, are experiencing the negative consequences. The number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation is growing dramatically. Just this past week I heard statistics from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary that confirm that statement. It's estimated that one third of adults under the age of 30 years have no religious influence in their lives.
Voices opposed to Christianity are more vocal, and the church has largely lost it's prophetic voice and passion to preach the pure Gospel. And although we are grateful for the victories that God has given us, and for the work He is doing, the data shows that we are losing ground in our efforts to win our community, our nation to Christ. The days are evil indeed!
But Paul also saw in his culture a moment of opportunity to make a difference for the Lord. The biblical word translated as "time" in the NKJV is the word "kairos." This word for time does not indicate chronological time, but an opportune moment. So some translations (e.g., NIV, ESV) read, "Making the most of every opportunity" (NIV). The word speaks of "a marked season," a "signal juncture." It is similar to the expression popularized some years ago in the movie Dead Poets Society, "Carpe Diem," or "seize the day" (From a message by David Hankins, Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention).
As it was for Paul in his day so it is for us in our day. We have the resources, the time, the knowledge of God to make "the most of every opportunity," to seize the moment. But for us to make the most of every opportunity, to redeem the time that we have, we will ...
Series: Ephesians
Joe Alain
Ephesians 5:15-20
Just like the Apostle Paul in his day, we face serious and urgent challenges in our world today. It is obvious even to the casual observer that many aspects of the society in which we live are characterized by a growing ungodliness. People have rebelled against God and they, and our culture, are experiencing the negative consequences. The number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation is growing dramatically. Just this past week I heard statistics from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary that confirm that statement. It's estimated that one third of adults under the age of 30 years have no religious influence in their lives.
Voices opposed to Christianity are more vocal, and the church has largely lost it's prophetic voice and passion to preach the pure Gospel. And although we are grateful for the victories that God has given us, and for the work He is doing, the data shows that we are losing ground in our efforts to win our community, our nation to Christ. The days are evil indeed!
But Paul also saw in his culture a moment of opportunity to make a difference for the Lord. The biblical word translated as "time" in the NKJV is the word "kairos." This word for time does not indicate chronological time, but an opportune moment. So some translations (e.g., NIV, ESV) read, "Making the most of every opportunity" (NIV). The word speaks of "a marked season," a "signal juncture." It is similar to the expression popularized some years ago in the movie Dead Poets Society, "Carpe Diem," or "seize the day" (From a message by David Hankins, Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention).
As it was for Paul in his day so it is for us in our day. We have the resources, the time, the knowledge of God to make "the most of every opportunity," to seize the moment. But for us to make the most of every opportunity, to redeem the time that we have, we will ...
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