A Stumbler's Walk | TIME

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, 

making the best use of the time.

-- Colossians 4:5

The one commodity that can never be recovered is time. I am writing this post on the morning of my son's (and youngest child's) 18th birthday. We are heading to breakfast and church, then off for a quick getaway to Chicago and a Cubs game. He is no longer the chubby-cheeked towhead; he is a young man.

Time has not moved slowly. And I ask myself, "Have I made the most of the time?" The answer is no, and yes; it is sometimes and maybe. 

(Just as in the last post - DO - I believe this one will produce a sequel. But again, for now, back to the purpose of this devotion.)

Paul writes to the Colossian Christians that they must focus on making the best use of time. The instruction sounds much like that in Ephesians 5:16. However, in both cases, Paul sets the admonition to use time well in context. Here, he speaks of making the most of our time in relation to those who do not believe the way we do. 

When I served as a pastor, one of the things I repeatedly said from the pulpit went something like this: 

We should be much more concerned that people understand what we are for, 

than what we are against.

I really don't think the Kingdom of God hinges on whether we dance or have a glass of wine. (Though my dancing could cause some to deny the existence of an Intelligent Designer.) Furthermore, I wonder what damage has been done in the name of Being Salt and Light when we are passionate about issues, but lose compassion for people. 

It is possible, I believe, to be both passionate on issues and compassionate toward people. And this is the point Paul makes. It is also the point of Christ's ministry. Read the Gospels, you will find it - Jesus' overriding passion was for the glory of his Father. And this passion was displayed in his compassion toward people - broken, hurting, wounded people. God's heart has always been for the humble and the humiliated. 

Jesus' harshest words were reserved for those who self-righteously misrepresented God. They were those who drove a wedge between a redeeming God and the focus of his love - failing people. They did not make the best us of the time because they did know compassion. They did not know the heart of God. 

Jesus life was one of mission. He said, "I came to seek and to save that which was lost," (Matthew 18:11); "Come to me all who are weary and burdened; I will give you rest," (Matthew 11:28); and "I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly," (John 10:10). 

Christ's calling on our lives is to join him in his mission of compassion and redemption. 

It is imperative to understand and know what we believe. But we must also understand the gospel is a salve for wounded hearts, not a club for us to pummel those (including ourselves) who desperately need compassion. 

In the days of true vinyl records, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) had a song, a portion of which was intentionally recorded backward. Spinning the record in reverse (try that with Spotify) the words became clear: The music is reversible... time is not... Go back... Go back...

We cannot go back. What we can do is make the most of the time we have. We can join in carrying out Christ's mission of passion and compassion. 

God, give me a heart that is passionate toward you and compassionate toward people.

For now...

D