John Stanko

TOPIC: Time and Priorities

"As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures" - Acts 17:2.

Paul worked full time as a tent maker to meet the needs of his team, but then he spent his time off work fulfilling his purpose of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and teaching those who responded. He started that purpose process in each city by first visiting the synagogues where he could identify Jews and Gentiles who the Spirit was drawing to faith. This was not a command in Scripture, otherwise evangelists and apostles would be following the same pattern today. Instead, it was a ministry and life value that belonged to Paul alone. Paul was true to this value, which made it a priority, and he carefully followed his priorities, using his free time to fulfill his purpose. Have you identified your priorities? Are you following them by devoting your time to them in their order of importance? Do you have faith that if you follow your priorities and do what you want, God will multiply your efforts and bless your use of time?

Lord, it seems that every day time slips away before I can get to the most important things. Some of those things have languished for years in my heart, but no more. Today I will identify my priorities and then, with Your help, discover how I can faithfully follow those priorities in my daily use of time.