Time For God

Last Sunday Jimmy filled in for our regular preacher who was out of town. His sermon was titled, "Time for God". I have still been thinking about his message all week, and I have a few thoughts.
How much of our time does God want? 30 minutes of Bible reading and prayer first thing in the morning so you can check it off your "to do list"? Or a few minutes of prayer right before you go to bed at night so you won't feel guilty? Is reading your Bible in order to complete your lessons for Bible class enough? What about praying when life gets stressful?

Obviously God wants way more than this. Consider these few verses (all from the NIV).
Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship."
Remember those sacrifices that God demanded daily for various sins in the OT? Do you remember that the animals for sacrifice had to be without blemish? God's people had to put some thought into choosing their animals for sacrifice....on a daily basis. Today WE are living sacrifices. I think God wants us to put a good deal of thought into presenting ourselves holy and pleasing to God. Of course we are not without blemish (thank you Lord for Jesus's blood), but we must make choices all day every day that reflect that we are sacrificing ourselves for God. Choose to spend much time in prayer and Bible reading. Choose to memorize Scripture. Choose to give a gentle answer instead of displaying your anger. Pray, pray, and pray some more for the Lord to help you be the living sacrifice he wants. This takes lots of time.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
We are commanded to pray continually. Throughout the day. Prayers of praise and thankfulness, and prayers of help and for wisdom.

Colossians 3:17 "And whaterever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
Obeying these verses will pretty much take up all of our time! Whatever you do, do it ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus---so as you are working today, serving your family, working outside your home, taking care of a sick or elderly relative, cleaning up from the children's stomach virus, whatever you do today, think of serving the Lord while doing it.
God wants ALL of our time.