"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Ephesians 5:16
Punctuality is one aspect of redeeming the time. People show how much they value an event by whether they arrive early before the event begins. The exceptions only prove the rule. Next week will be the premier sporting event of the year: the Super Bowl. How many people, do you think, holding tickets to the Super Bowl will show up after kickoff time?
If we really value our opportunity to worship, we will show it by arriving before our worship begins. I understand that occasionally events conspire against us to prevent us from arriving in a timely manner. A flat tire, an unruly child, an unexpected leak—many things can unexpectedly delay one's departure. However, planning to arrive early and facing an unexpected delay is different than planning to arrive right on time and then encountering a delay that should have been anticipated. We want to arrive punctually, prayed up, and prepared to worship our Creator. We do not want to arrive late, anxious because of the delay, scurrying to get to our place, and frustrated that our seat was taken by someone who arrived earlier than we did. Determine to come early next week!
Pastor Scott Dean
God has been very good to us. We have a tendency to focus on the negative and notice all the things that we lack rather than to see all the gifts that God has given us.
When we experience the vanity that is life without God, do we return to the God who loves us?
Rest comes from rejecting responsibilities that God does not intend for us and accepting God's yoke for us.
The answer to America's social ills is God's grace and Christian love.