It's Friday

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

Romans 13:11-14  

“Work hard play hard” is the mantra of a lot of people I know. Many people rise up early and work long hours Monday through Friday with the anticipation of the weekend ahead. Some look forward to sleeping in on the weekend in an attempt to catch up from the lost hours of the previous days, others look forward to getting out of town. Some make plans to party with friends while others want to do absolutely nothing and just sit at home. And yes, there are those who will be doing “honey do’s”, all those little house hold chores that get left throughout the week. Whatever is in your plans for the weekend the Bible tells us to be very careful for the simple fact of what 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Most people, adults and kids alike tend to find trouble in their free time and most often on the weekends when much of the choosing is left to ourselves. Relax yes, but drop your guard, no. Bad things do happen to good people. We use phrases like, “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time” when we find ourselves in trouble when in fact had we not dropped our guard to begin with we might have avoided trouble all together. The world has coined the expression, “Living for the weekend” to express the motivation for existence. Our lives shouldn’t be measured by the events and activities of one or two individual days. A 5 to 2 ratio doesn’t seem much like living to me. Solomon made a wise observation in Ecclesiastes 5:18,  “Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.” In other words, don’t just live for the weekend, find fulfillment in every day!

The apostle Paul reminds us that we as Christians are living in two worlds. This world is not our home, We are just pilgrims passing through so be careful. Don’t fall for the temptations, avoid the land minds all around us. In Ephesians 5:15-17 the apostle writes, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” The point is God has a plan for your life and mine this weekend that might not match up with what you and I had planned. “Be careful what you ask for as you just might get it” Pastor Greg Laurie wrote about just this morning in a devotional. God has blessed us with free will, the right to choose. We can’t blame the sovereignty of God for our sinful choices as God tempts no one. We need to pray as we prepare for the weekend ahead, “not my will but Thine be done.”

Yes, its Friday, loved one, the weekend lies ahead but so does the wicked one who loves the dark rather than the light. Make the most of the weekend ahead by recalling to your mind the words of the apostle Paul in Galatians 1:4, “who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Take it a step further if you are going out. Don’t just get dressed up, put on the full armor of God before you do anything else. Ephesians 6:13 explains why, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Have a great time this weekend, relax but be on guard. Make the most of your weekend remembering to, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5).


“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Acts 1:8

I LOVE YOU!  

 
 
 
 




Michael Osthimer

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