“As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” — John 9:4-5
Redeeming the Time
Athletes thrive on activity. Downtime is difficult to manage for many coaches and athletes, but it is important for us to make the best use of our time.
The Wesley Brothers maximized every moment. John Wesley and his brother, Charles, traveled some 250,000 miles on horseback spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John averaged preaching three sermons a day and 15 sermons per week. He preached anywhere, anytime to anyone. Charles Wesley wrote some 6,500 hymns. He yearned to do even more for God. He wrote the following in one of his hymns: “O for a thousand tongues to sing our great Redeemer’s praise.” The Wesley Brothers, who were instrumental in founding the United Methodist Church, wrote sermons, commentaries and songs while their horses galloped over dusty, rough roads.
Jesus packed a lot into his 33 years of life and especially His three years of ministry. He learned to work diligently as a carpenter alongside His father before His ministry started. Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5).
When John was exiled on the Island of Patmos, he didn’t sit down and whine. He shared Christ with other people in the prison camp and wrote the Book of Revelation. Likewise, Paul wasn’t discouraged by forced isolation. Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon when they locked him up and tried to silence him. He found ways to spread God’s Word. In response to his suffering for the Gospel, he said, “This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s Word is not chained” (2 Timothy 2:8-9).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.
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