Fifty minutes of my work day are spent on the road. Twenty-five there. Twenty-five back. A good question for me always is, "What am I to do with this near-hour I have?" I'm past being convinced that this is an important question. With words like, "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil", who among believers can question that using our time wisely is, well, wise. How many moments of my life have passed with not only evil intentions, but with no real intention whatsoever? In other words, I have allowed time to pass brainlessly and heartlessly, when the ethic attached to time is so clear (as stated above by the apostle), and God-central (I Cor. 10:31) for those who are loved by Christ.
Some of you may be using this time to stuff your mind and fill your heart with what pleases God. But, maybe some of you are stuck in the rut of being a passive listener to public or sports radio, eating breakfast, applying make-up... Those may be alright every once in a while, but there is constant danger of nibbling too much at the table of the world, stuffing our souls with small things and leaving no room for the great. So, if traffic jams are your daily lot or long stretches of interstate have been ordained for you, here are some suggestions on how to spend your time wisely (that implies safely also, so, "keep eyes on the road" governs the following):
1. Listen to music that has the worth and work of Jesus Christ as its subject matter. Need some? Go to http://sovereigngracemusic.org
2. Download the ESV Bible onto your phone/ipod and before you leave, set it to a certain chapter (you can go through whole books pretty quickly this way).
3. Rehash in your mind sharing the gospel with unbelievers...specifically those with whom you work.
4. Pray through a mental list that you've pre-prepared. Dividing into categories like Missions, Church Family, Family, Government, Lost, etc.
5. Brainstorm on ways you can encourage your wife, children and/or co-workers at some point during that day.
May the Lord of time prosper us in our commutes. You know, if anyone can make the mundane meaningful, He can...and He does.
