“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT
How we view our purpose, dreams, goals, and daily lives is what determines the kingdom we belong to.
We have 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week, and approximately 720 hours in a month…. What we prioritize in those hours DETERMINES the kingdom that we serve.
The average American will spend at least 3 hours and 29 minutes on video content every day. Those that have social media will spend an average of 2 hours and 24 minutes on it each day. The average American sleeps about 6.8 hours a night. If you add in an average work day of 8 hours (for many it is much more)…that leaves only a little over 3 hours in your day. If many people, those 3 hours are already spent, leaving them with 0 extra time.
So, the BIG question for us is what what time do we have left for living out the purpose of the Kingdom of God?
Some smart phones will tell you how much time you are spending on each app. This would be a great reflection point for all of us to make sure we are not out of balance for His Kingdom.
When Jesus was arrested, He made an incredible statement about Himself and His disciples about this temporary earthly Kingdom.
He was about to pay the ultimate cost for you and me on the cross. His Disciples were ready to fight to defend him, Jesus made that clear. However, He did not want them to because the mission of God’s Kingdom is different than an earthly kingdom.
“Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”John 18:36 NLT
Everything that the disciples had given up would have been in vain if they decided to “cash in” at the cross by fighting to keep Jesus from dying. They would have been giving up on eternal Kingdom things.
Yes, at the beginning when they heard Christ would have to suffer, they didn’t want it to happen. That was their human flesh side that Christ quickly corrected, and they understood.
Anything lost in this life for Jesus is only gained in the afterlife with Him.
Look what Paul said,
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14
Our time is precious. Are we dedicating more time to things that are temporary or things that are eternal? What can you and I do to assure that we are giving time to God’s Kingdom? Do we have our priorities right?
Let’s check ourselves today and make sure we are dedicating time to what truly matters.
