Resolved: An Urgent Call For Zealous Living

Ephesians 5:15-18 

“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. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” Ephesians 5:15-18

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:25–27 

What areas of your life do you need to live with more intentionality? 

The phrase “making the best use of the time” can also be translated as “redeeming the time.” This is probably the most accurate rendering of the original Greek, which literally means to “buy back.”

In the ancient context, this term was used for buying someone back from slavery. The command here implies a deliberate, urgent, and aggressive action.

“The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.” Billy Graham

“Time is the great measure of our opportunity, and the great means of our duty. Every moment lost is an opportunity of grace lost.” John Owen

What are some practical ways that you can redeem your time this year?

The Greek word translated as time here is kairos, which is not the same as chronological time (chronos). Some translations put it as “making the most of every opportunity.” Kairos refers to the right or critical moment, an urgent opportunity that calls for decisive action! 

Everyday Pray for B.O.B. 

Burden for the Lost
Opportunity to Witness 

Boldness to Proclaim Christ

 “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” Colossians 4:5 

When you have an opportunity to share Christ with someone, that is the ultimate kairos moment. A moment that could change their eternity! 

Let’s go into each day trusting the sovereignty and providence of God, looking for those once-in-a-lifetime moments to share Christ, encourage others, and disciple those around us.

Godly living isn’t frantic; it’s focused on being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and zealously responding to every opportunity God places in your path.

The most productive hour of your day is your time alone with God. 

“Prayer can never be in excess.” Charles Spurgeon

“Do all the good you can,  By all the means you can,  In all the ways you can,  In all the places you can,  At all the times you can,  To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” John Wesley 

How can you be more sensitive to the “kairos moments” God provides you to share Christ and serve others this year?  

Another major influence in the First Great Awakening was Jonathan Edwards, widely regarded as America’s greatest theologian. 

At just nineteen, he wrote seventy resolutions that shaped the trajectory of his entire life and, in many ways, influenced the American church and our nation. Here are a few that stood out to me…

“Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good... Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.” Jonathan Edwards - Resolution #1 

“Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the glory of God.” Jonathan Edwards - Resolution #2

“Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.” Jonathan Edwards - Resolution #5

“Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.” Jonathan Edwards - Resolution #6

“Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.” Jonathan Edwards - Resolution #7

“Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world (heaven), as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.” Jonathan Edwards - Resolution #22

“How utterly terrible is the current idea that Christians can serve God at their own convenience.” A.W. Tozer

What does Paul mean that the days are evil? The backdrop and context of our lives in this fallen world is darkness and spiritual warfare. 

“Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that.” John Piper 

Some people get uncomfortable when the topic of spiritual warfare comes up. They would rather not think about all that. It reminds me of the classic line from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

Theoden: “I will not risk open war.”

Aragorn: “Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not.”

It is actually wise to take a realistic view of the world. 

In fact, you will develop much more resilience and will be able to battle discouragement and depression by taking a realistic and eternal perspective on life.

“It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind,” Ecclesiastes 7:2

This world is a layover. Eternity is our home. 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis

“It is a serious thing to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare…There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” C.S. Lewis

“Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs!” Jonathan Edwards 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10

Turn - Repent of your sin and self ruled life. 

Trust - Place all your faith in the finished work or Christ on the cross 

Go Deeper: Read 3 Questions for Setting God Centered Goals and This Article