“Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise (‘Live purposefully,’ Amplified Bible). Make the most of every opportunity (‘redeem the time,’ NKJV) in these evil days (‘make every minute count,’ CEV).” (Ephesians 5:15-16, NLT) In today’s text, “redeem the time” means to “buy up every opportunity” or “to seize (capture) the moment.” So many today are wasting the precious gift of time which God has given them … allowing the unlimited potential packaged within every divine moment to simply slip away from them … like a fallen leaf floats away in a rushing brook, guided only by the currents of the water (influence of those around them) and the obstacles (impediments) in the brook (circumstances of life). The Apostle Paul told us that to waste this precious gift of time is foolish – what every Christian needs to do is to “live wisely …and make the most of every opportunity.” (Colossians 4:5, NLT) The word translated “opportunity” in Colossians 4:5 comes from the Greek word kairos and it refers to a serendipitous (unforeseen / unanticipated /unexpected) window of opportunity) We as His people need to learn how to be ‘NOW’ people for God has lovingly prepared “divine moments” in every day for every one of us to claim / to seize for Him! Many folks today are allowing their lives to be governed/controlled by circumstances, opinions and life events to the point that they are allowing these divine moments (‘divinus momentos’) to pass by them without capturing the divine potential that each moment holds within it. American writer/poet Carl Sanburg once wrote, "Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." In Ephesians 5:15-16, it is interesting to note that ‘time’ in its original Greek origin is not ‘chronos’ which is clock time (hours / minutes / seconds), but is the Greek word ‘kairos’ – just like in Colossians 4:5 - which means the ‘right or opportune moment.’ Thus every believer is charged to be ‘opportunity managers’ – not just ‘time managers!’ We often seem to want to wait on “just the right moment / the right opportunity” 
to come, when in reality we may actually be standing in that right moment ... right now! Pastor Erwin Raphael McManus echoes this truth as he writes, “Moments are as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands in the sea, and any of them could prove to be your most significant divine moments. Within those moments, a handful will become the defining moments in your life. However mundane a moment may appear, the miraculous may wait to be unwrapped within it…what you do with this moment affects every moment. This is your moment (NOW!) … and this moment you’re in right now waits to be seized!” (Chasing the Daylight, pp. 9-10) On a much similar note, 2 Timothy 4:2 declares, “Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready, <‘be prepared,’ NLT>], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome]…” (Amplified Bible) As God’s people who are in the continual process of becoming more like Christ, we need to heed the device shared with Timothy here and be prepared to seize any divine opportunity within any moment which may unfold. Pastor Erwin Raphael McManus again shares, “Seizing divine moments is not (just) about opportunity; at the core it is about ‘essence.’ It’s about the kind (quality) of life you live as a result of the person you are becoming … The challenges you are willing to face will rise in proportion to the character you are willing to (let God) develop (in you). With the depth of godly character comes an intensity of godly passion. It is in this process of (spiritual) transformation that we find the fuel to engage with confidence the (divine) opportunities placed before us.” (2002, pp. 47) So let us seize every divine moment which the Lord so graciously gives us by living purposefully for Him … starting today … starting RIGHT NOW! …Selah!Today's Spirit-led video is a POWERFUL Christian short film produced by HopePark Church in Nashville, Tennessee and it can be viewed by clicking on the title, "Seizing Divine Moments." It is amazing to hear the affirmation of God's truth shared in today's devotion and echoed through this short film which I discovered AFTER writing this WOTD - G3!
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