“…making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16)

If we couldn’t or didn’t figure this out for ourselves, Paul states it plainly. The days are evil. There is evil in the world. Satan is alive and active. His handiwork is everywhere and completely surrounds us. We cannot live in the world without running headlong into evil. For that reason, we must live in the world but not be of the world. It’s true that we can’t escape the world at this present time, but that doesn’t mean we have to participate.

Jesus reminded us to take it one day at a time because each day had enough evil of its own. We don’t need to stack the days up because we will have problems just dealing with evil one day at a time.

Several years ago there was a song entitled “One Day at a Time.” I requested that song on the radio several times. I still remember the chorus, and I think it’s a good prayer for us today:

“One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from You
Just give me the strength to do every day
What I have to do.”

Every day has 24 hours, and each of us is given the same evil day. The question Paul would raise is how are we using the 24 hours. Are we making the most of our time? It’s all about our walk. Remember, in verse 15 he challenged us to be careful how we walk, not unwisely but wisely?

There is another consideration to this as well. Today is a one time opportunity for us. We won’t get a groundhog day do-over. This day will go down in history marking just how we used it, how we walked. It will go down as all the ones before it as an evil day, but our part can go down as a wise and Godly day. It’s our choice, just as its always been.

Task for Today: Use your time wisely. Follow the way of light and stay out of the darkness. Ask Jesus for help. You can pray, “Just give me the strength today to do what I have to do to be pleasing to you.”