KEY SCRIPTURE: John 9:4 KJV” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

The Lord Jesus knew He did not have an unlimited time frame to complete His task. He used the term ‘day’ to refer to the period one could be active. The daytime is a moment when most people are awake for all kinds of activities. The day also meant when He was alive. The night is a moment most people go to rest. The night also meant when He had left the earth. Even if you may want to be awake during the night, you may not get others with whom you may have to relate with.

 The night gives you no option to do much.

From Jesus’ approach to duty, I believe He knew He had a very short time to complete so many tasks. The Lord had a lot to do in a period of three and a half years. Let’s take a look at His mission or task within these three and a half years.

1. He was to raise 12 apostles, and other disciples, train, teach and show them all that the Father would want them to know, so they could effectively carry on with His work after He had left for heaven. John 17:6 KJV “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word.”

2. Secondly, He was to travel to the regions of Jerusalem, Judea, some parts of Samaria, and even gentile regions of Tyre and Sidon ministering the good news of the kingdom, healing the sick and working diverse miracles to reveal to them God’s love for all. In a number of instances, people engaged Him, one on one as well. He did most of His journeys on foot and at times on a ship. John 3:1, Acts 1:1

3. Finally, He was to go through His passion of suffering, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven.

The Lord was to do all these in three and a half years. The one main part was to raise men who would carry on the work to the uttermost part of the earth. These men were sent as sheep among wolves and were to be as harmless as doves, yet as wise as serpents. This was a real paradox, yet they were to be excellent at it. Their success greatly depended on how effective He prepared them. He was to achieve this to please His father.

I also believe that a second reason why the Lord worked so hard within such a short time was to set an example for later generations of believers, that, diligent commitment to the work can enable disciples to achieve so much within a very short time.

Considering the level of success, the master attained in comparison to what most servants of God are doing these days, we realise most people are seriously wasting precious time. Apostle Paul cautioned the brethren in Ephesus to redeem the time, for the days are evil Eph 5:16. Everyone of us must ask ourselves, how effective are we using our time? What impact are we making on our generation?

CONFESSION

I have a very limited time to do so much for the master. I approach my task with a great strategy and a great degree of diligence. I make sure, no time is wasted in any way.

THOUGHT:  YOUR VALUE OF THE WORK INFLUENCES YOUR USE OF TIME

FURTHER STUDIES

Deut 3:4 KJV And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

Prov 27:23 KJV “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.”