04 December 2006 Devotion for Today “Best Intentions” Colossians 4:2-5
The other day I heard someone remark, “I meant to go and do that, but then I forgot.” I honestly could not be too hard in my opinion of this person, even if it did sound like a lame excuse. How many times have I honestly tried to do what I wanted to do, intended to do, and for some reason it just didn’t happen. If this person’s schedule was like mine, it’s a wonder he is not dead, much less unable to show up at a meeting or to get a project completed. There have been times I have allowed things to slip past because my schedule crowds them out. This is especially true when spiritual things are concerned. Most people have the tendency to grow comfortable with themselves, resting on past achievements, distinctions, or “laurels” to carry them into an area of life they simply are not prepared for. That is when we try to “wing it” and hope others don’t notice. Only they do notice. They just don’t say anything to us about it because they are too busy trying to wing it themselves.
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:2-5
Paul desires to be vigilant in his ministry- to stay focused and always look for the open door of opportunity. Even though he is constantly chained and dragged down by the confinement of prison bars there are constant opportunities which surround him. Even the Roman prison guards provide a captive audience to speak the mystery of Jesus Christ to them. Then Paul challenges us to be wise to the opportunities to advance the witness for Christ to unbelievers. In a round about way, Paul basically says that if he can do it in the context of prison life, how many more opportunities do we have to reflect our witness. It is a matter of making most of our time.
I read an article yesterday which had a quote in it I will leave you with. The writer said, “Even the poorest action is better than the best of intentions.”[1] How right he was. The things we do may not turn out very well, or go as well as we had planned. But how much better they are than the half-hearted thoughts that we never get around to doing. And think about this. We are already into the month of December. How much more time do we have do accomplish what we said we were going to do last year?
Have a blessed and productive day!
Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net
website: http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/
[1] Marvin Owen “Seven Useless Things: Hindrances to Growth”, Leaderlife Magazine, Lifeway Press Winter 2006-07, pp. 26-27.
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