Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17

Part of the young supermarket clerk's job was collecting carts people left in the parking lot.

He was on such a "cart run" when he saw a lady who was struggling with her abundance of groceries. He watched as the lady put one of her packages on the roof of the car, while she popped the trunk and car doors. He watched as she loaded her packages, as she got into her car, started it up, and started to drive away.

Noticing the woman had left that one package on the top of her car, the clerk abandoned his carts and started running toward her. He reached the car just as she stopped and prepared to make the turn, which would take her to the street. He reached her just as the package slid off the roof. He reached her in time to catch "the package" -- her baby -- before it hit the pavement.

Now let me ask, should the clerk have kept gathering carts, or should he have run to save that baby?

Silly question?

Probably. Still, the company which employed the clerk had instructed him to bring in carts, not chase after cars. Nowhere in his job description was there anything that spoke about saving babies, who had been forgotten by their mothers. You know, I can come up with a thousand reasons that say the clerk should have kept collecting carts. Still, every one of those reasons is absolutely ridiculous when it is balanced against the welfare of a child.

The bottom line is this: the clerk made the best use of the time he had.

This, of course, leads me to ask, what is the best use of our time? I think the answer ought to be as obvious for us as saving the baby was for the store clerk.

The best use of time? That would be telling others about the salvation which is theirs in Jesus.

Yes, there are other things that need doing; there are important things, trivial things, mandatory things, elective things, but the best use of time is doing what we can, so the Holy Spirit can move someone from damnation to salvation, from hell to heaven, from darkness into the light of salvation.

This is why, today, we pray for you that the Lord may give you the wisdom and courage to make the best use of time, while there still is time to reach out to the persons close to you who need to know Jesus has lived, suffered and died, so they might be saved.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord the times are evil, and Satan has used situation and circumstance to seduce souls. Today I ask that You will give me the opportunity, the courage, the words to share the Savior with those who need Him. Help me make the best use of my time in these evil times. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Micah 6-7    Acts 22

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