Take Some Time

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also rest from their own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:9-13 TNIV)

Time management is a modern-day phenomenon that seems to have exploded since the invention of the watch.  There's a time to wake up.  There's a time to exercise.  There's a time to go to school or work.  There's a time for each meal of the day.  There's a time for shopping or traveling.  There's time for my special someone.  There's time for my children.  There's a time for my favorite television program.  There's a time to go to sleep.  (Early on, our parents even worked to get us to sleep at the "right time" of the day.)  From the moment we are born, everything in our lives seems to be driven by the existence of time.

How do you spend the time that has been given to you?

God has always called out to us to take time with Him.  "Stop living the details of life and spend some time with Me," seems to be what He's tells us.  God modeled this by stopping His work of creation on the seventh day to simply enjoy the results of the work He has done.  By the time His Law was being written, a Sabbath Rest made it onto the "top 10" list.  Taking time with God is vitally important to our walk with Him.

The Hebrews-writer uses the physical Sabbath Rest, that takes place every seven days, to speak of another kind of rest that we all can enter.  This rest comes when we hear the good news (gospel message) preached to us and we believe what we have heard (Hebrews 4:2), following it with obedience to the gospel (Hebrews 4:6).  If you have reconciled with God through the work of Christ Jesus, you have entered a Sabbath Rest with God.  Now you can rest from the "work" of getting right with Him.

The thing is, we know that our minds and hearts are filled with thoughts that are not pleasing to God.  We recognize that we say words and do things that He has commanded us not to do.  How, then, can we "rest" with God when we are still struggling against Him like this in our lives?  Well, it starts with time again.

I've already show you earlier how to enter that Sabbath Rest with God and receive the gift of His Spirit.  In reality, we don't need to follow anyone's direction other than His Spirit.  Unfortunately, you and I have been processing "boxes" (thoughts) from so many sources over the years that we have a difficult time recognizing when it is His Spirit putting a "box" in our minds and when it is another source.  We have a tough time distinguishing between "good boxes" and "bad boxes" as our minds actively process from day to day.  That's where Scripture comes into play.

God has already spoken in the past, showing us what is right and wrong - explaining to us how we are designed and how to live according to His good plans for our lives.  He showed through His interactions with people in the past.  He showed us through his direct commands, explanations, teachings, and even His model.  He captured all this information in the form of a book and has preserved it from generation to generation for thousands of years.

He has given us His words.

Now we need to take the time to read them.

When we take the time, His "living and active" Word will begin to work in our minds and hearts to show us where His Spirit is trying to encourage, correct, and guide us.  His "penetrating" and "dividing" Word will show us when a thought is from Him and when it is against Him and His Design for our lives.  His all-seeing Word will seek out every thought in our minds and hearts, leaving no box unopened.  We need to spend time in His Word.

Take some time.

Spend it in His Word.

It's an essential step toward clearing your conscience.