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By Mike Caton

John 7:6, “Therefore Jesus told them, ‘My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.’”

The Jewish leaders are looking for a way to kill Jesus, v 1. His brothers urge him to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. But Jesus tells them his time has not yet come. Jesus knew before he came to earth he was heading to the cross. He knew he came to be the perfect, complete and final sacrifice for our sins. But he also knew God had a plan, Jesus still has much to teach the world, many sermons to preach, many signs to perform, many people to heal and many people to show God’s love to. Jesus knows God’s plan is not complete, that it is not his time to die.

Do we realize that God has a plan for our lives as well? We are certainly not here to do all of what Jesus did, but that doesn’t mean God still doesn’t have a purpose in mind for us. We most often look at God’s will as mysterious, hard to figure out, something that is beyond us and maybe even as something that we really don’t want to do. We might imagine, if we were to surrender to God’s will, we might have to become a preacher or a teacher, maybe God would send us to some crazy place as a missionary. And honestly, that might be God’s plan for you. But it might be something far more simple and something you might actually enjoy. God wants you to be the best husband or wife, parent, child, friend, neighbor, worker, and so forth that you can possibly be. And I fully believe you cannot be your best at anything without God. It is only when you surrender yourself to him, when you commit every part of your life to God, that you truly live the life he intends. Does that mean a life of ease, of health and wealth, of no problems? Not necessarily, but it does mean God will carry you through whatever comes along.

It really boils down to how you decide to spend your time, whose schedule you decide to follow. And it demands that we ask the question of who is in your driver’s seat.

Father, help me make your time my time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works part time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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