Last year, my wife and I were attending a LCMS Disaster Relief Retreat in Germany. While in the city of Erfurt, Germany we did some sight -seeing around the city. She stopped in a Coffee Shop while next door was a Clock Shop where I went in to look. Boy was it noisy, hearing the different clocks ticking and tocking or banging and ringing their bells and chimes. All the clocks doing the same thing, telling time, but they did it in so many different ways.

We are living in a great clock shop. Feel your heart right now. It is ticking away many times each hour, keeping time for your life. It seems like we are always conscious of time: straight time, overtime, time and a half, vacation time, work time, play time, church time, etc.

God has given us all 24 hours in every day. He has given us 8,760 hours in every year. And, He asks us to redeem it, to make it count for something. He gives us enough time to build our careers, make our money, build friendships, establish relationships, have fun and serve Him in His Kingdom. The Word of God says, “Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” not to major in minors and give first rate effort to second rate causes, but to stay on the things that are really big and matter: The Things of God.

Anything you think is important you will make time for doing. I have found out that I have time for anything I really think is important. And so do you. Time is a trust given to us by God. We are to treat it with the utmost respect, and when we do, God will accomplish great things in our lives.

August arrives with all its potential. Opportunities are there for you to redeem your time in study and service. Seek first with your time the opportunity to grow in His Word. The most important day next to your Baptism date, is the last day on this earth when you will leave time to go into eternity to be with your Lord and Savior. As you approach that last day, you are going to become more and more conscious of the blessings of your faith in Jesus Christ. In the meantime, live life by God’s calendar wisely. One day at a time is the way to go. Spend a portion of that day with the Lord in Meditation, a portion of the day in Bible study, and a portion of the day in prayer.

As we start making plans for next season, let’s dedicate ourselves to learn how best to redeem the gift of time which is ours by grace.

“Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom and finally be saved.”

-Psalm 90:12

Pastor Don Treglown