^“Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light…”
Romans 13:11-12 (NRSV)

This week we turned our clocks back. I never realized how many clocks we had in our home. We gained an hour of time, so to speak. For some of us it was time to get a bit of extra sleep. Others arose early and realized they had another hour to pack a few more things into their schedules. Everything we do is dictated by time on the clock.

In our society one hour is the benchmark for the majority of activities. What would you do if you had one extra hour each day? It made me wonder.

How did the early Christians tell time? How important was each second, minute, or hour to them? Did Jesus have a clock or watch that he used to tell time?

“For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:4 (NRSV)

Prior to Jesus’ time the sundial was used to tell time by the movement of the sun. The Hebrews divided out the 24-hour day into approximate 12-hour increments differentiating between night and day. A day was 12 hours of sunlight beginning at sunrise. A night was 12 hours of darkness beginning at sunset. Each 12-hour increment was subdivided into 4 watches. These watches were important for activities both day and night and especially for vigilance in the evening hours when evil lurked.

Jesus knew his time on earth was limited so he made the most of the daylight just as his disciples where ready to call it a day. The amazing resurrection story of Lazarus happened right after Jesus modeled for his disciples that daylight remained even if it was just one more hour. He knew his ministry was not quite finished. Is there an underlying message for us in this passage?

^“Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.’”
John 11: 9-10 (NRSV)

Do you recall your Grand Sweep Bible readings from Leviticus and Isaiah? The Year of the Sabbath (7 years) was a time for resting the land to renew the soil for future crops.  The Year of the Jubilee (50 years) celebrated the release of debt/servitude for newfound freedom. The Hebrew calendar was tied to the harvest seasons and related festivals that lasted weeks, months and years. This made me realize the importance of longer periods of time even though it was the accumulation of daily, or even hourly, events that led up to these milestones.

In the book of Luke Jesus addresses the temple court with the very words that Isaiah prophesied regarding the favor of the Lord. Jesus said “the favor of the Lord is now.”

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
 Luke 4: 18-19 (NRSV)

The favor of the Lord is not happenstance. It requires steadfast faith and, as difficult as it may be, it does not come from worrying about what happens next. While we may have gained an hour this week, we really did not add an hour.

^“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:27 (NIV)

While grace saved us, the Lord’s favor requires intentional focus on spending time in prayer, study, and worship so that we can prioritize and maximize the limited time we have on earth. Likewise, the time we invest in others grows fruitfully over the years. It all starts with one hour and soon it becomes a lifetime.

 ^“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 (NRSV)

Our lives are busy, and we do need watches and clocks to keep us on schedule. Much is at stake regarding our punctuality, jobs, school, doctor’s appointments, etc. Yet, somehow we need to find ways for our schedules not to crowd out time with God, family, and church.

I recall years ago an AUMC family shared that they gathered after the family meal to hand wash dishes using that time in rich conversation. They chose to forgo the luxury of a time saving automatic dishwasher. Was that time well spent?

More recently I recall an AUMC family shared that they intentionally set aside time each month for the family to be together. While this might seem like a no-brainer, families with busy lives tell us that it is not such an easy task. Will they have experiences and stories to tell later?

One AUMC family, prior to COVID-19 hiatus, shared importance of church attendance as family time, but also modeling for the children the sacred respect of time for God. Even when families were unable to gather in our sanctuaries, I trust that they gathered around the computer for livestream family worship. Will these children grow up and take their children to church?

^“Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NRSV)

From all of our historical accounts Jesus’ ministry on this earth lasted about 3 ½ years. The length of his earthly mission was about 1,200 days or over 30,000 hours. Read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and you will hear how Jesus never wasted a moment to reach others with the good news.

How much more could He have done with one more hour in the day?

If we do not set aside cherished time with loved ones, we will have missed an opportunity that we will never be able to replace. We cannot stop time or turn back the clock, but we can make our duration on this earth fruitful.

“For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ ‘I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation!’” 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)

Hear the good news. Jesus spent his last hour on earth obediently walking to the hill on Calvary. That was the most important hour in our lives for he shed his blood for you and me to partake in the gift of salvation. This salvation we have is freedom from the sins that stop time to reveal the mystery of His will for our lives, which is to continue to build His kingdom one hour at a time – beginning right now.

“He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
Ephesians 1: 9-10 (NRSV)

What is keeping you from spending time with Christ? Is there someone you need to invest time in? What would you give to spend just one more hour with a loved one?

Peace be with you,
Kenny Shortsleeve, Lay Leader