Seek His Face
From Pastor Nate Widener
Greetings! As we discussed in this past weekend’s sermon, our time is not our own, but rather it is a gift from the Lord. This dovetails nicely with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
Now, I know that this week we will all be running around trying to make sure the turkey is brined and the cranberry sauce is just right, but our hope is that you can also spare a moment to be still and remember that none of this is possible without God. If you have a turkey in the first place, or if you have time to fuss over the stuffing, or watch a football game, it is because God in His great mercy has allowed you to do so.
So, as a result, we respond with thankfulness and it’s a good idea to spend a little time focusing on Him and devoting yourself to His Word and applying it in your life. There's an urgency to this message because as we come to an end in our church year, we recognize our time on earth is limited. As the Apostle Paul exhorts us, we must "make the best use of the time." Yet this urgency is balanced by an incredible promise. David declares, "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." This points to the hope of resurrection – a future where time as we know it ceases to matter, and we dwell in God's presence eternally.
This eternal perspective should shape how we view and use our time now. It doesn't mean we neglect our earthly responsibilities, but rather that we infuse them with eternal significance. We're called to "wait for the Lord" – not in passive idleness, but in active trust and obedience.
Speaking of which, if you’d like to give some of your time to helping others, I’ve got a few great suggestions for you! The days following Thanksgiving are chock full of opportunities to serve the Lord here at St. Peter’s. Firstly, this Friday morning we’ll be sorting food for our Thanksgiving food drive and you are welcome to come help the Social Ministry Team put together and deliver a generous portion of food to deserving families in our area. Secondly, if you’d like to help a child in our community, please take an Angel from the tree found in our Ministry Center and return your wrapped gift by Dec 15th. Thirdly, this Sunday, join the Connect Team to help our church decorate for Christmas! Worship at our 10:30 service and then stay to help deck the halls! This is a bigger job than you may think, so many hands make light work.
But, remember, stewardship of time isn't about rigid schedules or guilt-driven activity. It's about trust. When we give our time to God, we're saying, "I trust You with my most precious resource. Guide me in using it wisely."
As we realign our priorities and focus on seeking God's face, we may find that other aspects of life fall into place. The stress of time scarcity can be replaced by a sense of purpose and peace. We begin to see each moment as an opportunity to experience God's presence and participate in His work.
So let's embrace the challenge to view our time as a gift from God. May we seek His face diligently, learn His ways continuously, and live with the joyful anticipation of eternity. As we do, we'll discover that a life centered on God is the most fulfilling use of our time – both now and forever.
May God bless you this upcoming holiday and may He provide you with opportunities to make your time, His time!
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