SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN: “Redeeming Your Time”

*DAILY BREAD- A DEVOTIONAL FOR THE CHILDREN*

EASTERN NIGERIA UNION CONFERENCE CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

*THEME: I WILL GO*

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Topic: Redeeming your time

_So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise. Live wisely. I mean that you should use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times. So do not be foolish with your lives. But learn what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-17‬ ‭‬‬_

Time is something that treats or affects all people the same way. It is also resource that is distributed equally to everyone. Busy people do not have extra hours as a special bonus, neither do school children who want to learn or play some more.

The clock plays no favourites. Where we differ from one another is in how we use the time we have. We should not waste our time on things that do not yield value or positive returns in the long run.

Did you know that Jesus spent most of his time with 12 friends, two of which were James and John? Mark 10:43-45. James and John wanted to be the greatest in God’s kingdom next to Jesus and Jesus told them to leave at once and serve others.

He also told His friends that serving others is one of the wisest ways to redeem your time. (Redeem means to save from being destroyed but in this context, redeem means to save your time from wastage). If you want to live a good life, you need to redeem your time and spend it on doing the right things at the right time.

God loves you so much and He wants you to understand how to use the time you’ve been given to its greatest potential and the wisest way to redeem the time is making a decision that God is going to get the first and the best of your time. And in order for that to happen, You have to say ‘No’ to somethings so that you can say ‘Yes’ to Him.

Ask yourself these questions; who are my friends? What are the things I spend my time on? Do I play or sleep more than I learn or work? What can I do to make better use of my time from today? When you answer these questions, you may realize that you need to make a few or a lot of decisions in order to redeem your time in the best way. Also, think of time as a lovely gift from your loving father in Heaven, you wouldn’t want to misuse a gift, would you?

*Song*
Work, for the night is coming
Work for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling;
Work ‘mid springing flow’rs.
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.

*Prayer*
Dear God, please help me to make the best use of the time you have given me. Help me to say no to worldly pleasures and always say yes to You, in Jesus name. Amen.