¤[music ends]¤¤
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>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
00:00:19.35\00:00:21.25
I'm John Bradshaw.
Thanks for joining me.
00:00:21.28\00:00:24.15
His father was a famous actor,
and by the time he was 20,
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it was clear that he,
too, was gonna carve out
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a successful
career in show business.
00:00:30.39\00:00:33.09
After starring in the
musical television program
00:00:33.13\00:00:35.43
"The Partridge
Family," David Cassidy became
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a global sensation, a teen idol,
00:00:38.83\00:00:42.24
selling out Madison
Square Garden in hours,
00:00:42.27\00:00:44.91
playing to crowds of 56,000
at the Astrodome in Houston.
00:00:44.94\00:00:49.44
He sold out Wembley
Stadium in England and ignited
00:00:49.48\00:00:53.21
mass hysteria at
many of his shows.
00:00:53.25\00:00:57.19
But in spite of his
enormous success in television,
00:00:57.22\00:01:00.42
music, stage shows, and more,
00:01:00.46\00:01:03.66
not everything went
perfectly in his life.
00:01:03.69\00:01:06.26
He battled
alcoholism, faced bankruptcy,
00:01:06.29\00:01:09.43
and died from liver failure
in 2017 at the age of 67,
00:01:09.46\00:01:14.94
a sad end for a man
who was greatly loved,
00:01:14.97\00:01:17.11
immensely talented,
and had legions of fans.
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According to his
daughter, his last words were,
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"So much wasted time."
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¤[soft music]¤
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Think about that:
"So much wasted time."
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I can't be sure what
David Cassidy was referring to
00:01:32.02\00:01:34.89
when he said that,
but there's no doubt
00:01:34.92\00:01:37.59
he's not the only
person to have felt that way.
00:01:37.63\00:01:41.46
Everyone is given
the same amount of time.
00:01:41.50\00:01:44.23
No matter who you are,
every day contains 24 hours;
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every week is
made up of seven days;
00:01:49.07\00:01:51.47
every year is
roughly 365 days long.
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Life expectancy in the United
States is about 78.5 years.
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That's more than 28,500 days.
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In Canada it's a
little less than 82 years,
00:02:02.52\00:02:05.85
almost 30,000 days.
00:02:05.89\00:02:08.52
And no matter what you're
doing, no matter where you are,
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the clock keeps ticking.
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Time marches inexorably on.
00:02:14.63\00:02:17.97
As the Latin phrase
states, adapted from a poem
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written by Virgil
just before Jesus was born,
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"Tempus fugit." "Times flies."
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Which means that right now
you and I are getting older.
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Your next
birthday is getting closer.
00:02:31.35\00:02:33.28
The return of
Jesus is getting nearer.
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French novelist Victor
Hugo said, "Short as life is,
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we make it still shorter by
the careless waste of time."
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Every second that ticks away
into the past is gone forever.
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Charles Darwin wrote,
"A man who dares to waste
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one hour of time has not
discovered the value of life."
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According to Albert Einstein's
theory of special relativity,
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which explains how speed
affects mass, time, and space,
00:03:01.28\00:03:05.28
time would slow down
if you were to travel
00:03:05.31\00:03:07.85
at the speed of light,
186,000 miles a second.
00:03:07.88\00:03:12.12
And that's fast enough
for someone going that fast
00:03:12.15\00:03:14.36
to circle the globe
seven and a half times
00:03:14.39\00:03:16.86
in one second--pretty fast.
00:03:16.89\00:03:19.73
Einstein also theorized that as
you get closer to a black hole,
00:03:19.76\00:03:23.90
the flow of time slows down.
00:03:23.93\00:03:26.63
And he said that time
ticks faster or slower
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at different
elevations on earth.
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Life is
absolutely governed by time.
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Without a standardized
system for measuring time,
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society just wouldn't work.
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¤[soft music]¤
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Generations ago, the rhythms
of life were guided by nature.
00:03:43.08\00:03:47.52
Farmer Brown rose
when the rooster crowed,
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and once it got dark,
the day was essentially done.
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There were no time
zones in the United States
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until railroads
implemented them in the 1800s
00:03:55.10\00:03:57.97
to standardize
times for train schedules.
00:03:58.00\00:04:01.24
Communities used to
set their clocks to noon
00:04:01.27\00:04:04.27
based on when the sun reached
the highest position in the sky.
00:04:04.31\00:04:08.38
So, the time in
Washington, DC, for example,
00:04:08.41\00:04:11.38
would be different to
the time in New York City.
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The United States
today has six time zones.
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Don't forget Hawaii and Alaska.
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Canada has six.
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Russia has 11 time zones,
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while China, a little bigger
in area than the United States,
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has...just one.
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Time regulates our lives.
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Your job starts at,
let's say, 8:00 a.m.,
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not whenever you feel like it.
00:04:36.60\00:04:38.57
A production line could
never work if people rolled
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in and out of the factory
whenever they felt inclined.
00:04:41.58\00:04:44.35
You take the 7:15 bus
because that's the one
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that gets you to work on time.
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You work back from there to
calculate what time you have
00:04:49.35\00:04:52.15
to get out of bed, what time you
have to set your alarm clock.
00:04:52.19\00:04:56.49
But how do time and a person's
spiritual life intersect?
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In every way
and at every moment.
00:05:02.63\00:05:08.24
Think of this: Life is
the time you spend on earth
00:05:08.27\00:05:12.57
between two points in time.
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When you're born,
time begins for you.
00:05:15.48\00:05:18.31
When you die, time is done.
The clock stops ticking for you.
00:05:18.35\00:05:24.25
Life is that dash
you see on gravestones.
00:05:24.29\00:05:26.96
"Here lies Joan
Citizen," 1940-dash-2020.
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Joan lived for 80
years. That was that.
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Life is a very
finite amount of time.
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The Bible speaks
about our time on this earth
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being only so long.
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Psalm 90: "For all our days
are passed away in Thy wrath:
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"we spend our years
as a tale that is told.
00:05:47.24\00:05:50.61
"The days of our years
are threescore years and ten;
00:05:50.65\00:05:53.95
"and if by reason of strength
they be fourscore years,
00:05:53.98\00:05:57.09
yet is their
strength labour and sorrow."
00:05:57.12\00:06:00.69
The Bible writer says
our time on earth is limited
00:06:00.72\00:06:03.83
and then says, "So
teach us to number our days,
00:06:03.86\00:06:08.30
that we may apply
our hearts unto wisdom."
00:06:08.33\00:06:12.67
It's vital to be cognizant of
the very limited amount of time
00:06:12.70\00:06:16.84
we have on this mortal coil
and to use that time wisely.
00:06:16.87\00:06:22.84
So, what would
your life look like
00:06:22.88\00:06:25.21
if you gathered up
the fragments of time
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and utilized them
for your advantage?
00:06:27.85\00:06:30.15
While one person is frittering
away time on social media,
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another person is
practicing guitar.
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After a year or two of this,
you can expect that one person
00:06:35.79\00:06:38.66
has consumed a
whole lot of social media,
00:06:38.69\00:06:42.03
while the other has learned some
pretty decent guitar skills--
00:06:42.06\00:06:44.97
might not yet be a virtuoso
00:06:45.00\00:06:46.97
but certainly at
the point of competence.
00:06:47.00\00:06:50.31
Let's say you have a 45-minute
or an hour-long commute
00:06:50.34\00:06:53.21
on the subway every day.
00:06:53.24\00:06:54.74
You could play Candy
Crush or listen to music.
00:06:54.78\00:06:58.25
Or you could read.
00:06:58.28\00:06:59.71
The average reader can
get through a 300-page book
00:06:59.75\00:07:02.28
in about eight hours.
00:07:02.32\00:07:03.72
That's four days
commuting in this scenario.
00:07:03.75\00:07:06.32
Let's call it a book a week.
00:07:06.35\00:07:08.89
Imagine: a video
game? Or a book a week?
00:07:08.92\00:07:12.23
Fifty books a year,
100 books in two years.
00:07:12.26\00:07:17.10
The Bible urges us to make
the most of the time we have.
00:07:17.13\00:07:20.97
Proverbs 20:13 says,
00:07:21.00\00:07:23.00
"Do not love sleep,
lest you come to poverty;
00:07:23.04\00:07:25.91
open your eyes, and you
will be satisfied with bread."
00:07:25.94\00:07:28.71
That's an injunction against
laziness, and it's God saying,
00:07:28.74\00:07:33.05
"Use your time wisely."
00:07:33.08\00:07:35.22
While you're wasting
time, the clock is ticking.
00:07:35.25\00:07:38.55
And moments frittered
away are time you've traded
00:07:38.59\00:07:41.62
for little or nothing.
00:07:41.66\00:07:43.46
And that's not to say a
person shouldn't enjoy downtime.
00:07:43.49\00:07:46.16
That's important, too.
00:07:46.19\00:07:47.50
Sometimes that's the very
best way to spend your time.
00:07:47.56\00:07:50.80
But time is precious,
00:07:50.83\00:07:52.37
and wasting it can
set you back spiritually.
00:07:52.40\00:07:56.91
So, how can you
use the time you have
00:07:56.94\00:07:58.77
to grow your
relationship with God,
00:07:58.81\00:08:01.01
to prepare yourself for heaven?
00:08:01.04\00:08:03.01
A saved person and a
lost person both have
00:08:03.04\00:08:05.48
the same amount of time, but
one person invests their time
00:08:05.51\00:08:08.68
in something that matters most,
while the other person does not.
00:08:08.72\00:08:13.02
So how do we make sure
our lives are time well spent?
00:08:13.05\00:08:17.23
We'll find that
out in just a moment.
00:08:17.26\00:08:20.10
¤[music swells, then ends]¤¤
00:08:20.13\00:08:26.84
>>Announcer: "The Hope of
Glory" is a new devotional book
00:08:29.00\00:08:31.24
written by John Bradshaw.
00:08:31.27\00:08:32.61
Written with you in mind, the
365 Bible-based daily readings
00:08:32.64\00:08:36.21
cover a wide range
of important topics
00:08:36.24\00:08:38.18
to fuel your spiritual journey.
00:08:38.21\00:08:40.02
To order "The Hope of Glory,"
00:08:40.05\00:08:41.08
call 800-253-3000
00:08:41.12\00:08:43.59
or visit us online
at itiswritten.shop.
00:08:43.62\00:08:46.65
It Is Written viewers
can use the promo code "HOPE"
00:08:46.69\00:08:49.09
when ordering
"The Hope of Glory"
00:08:49.12\00:08:50.33
to get $5 off
the purchase price.
00:08:50.36\00:08:52.69
"The Hope of Glory,"
00:08:52.73\00:08:53.93
call 800-253-3000
00:08:53.96\00:08:56.63
or visit itiswritten.shop.
00:08:56.67\00:08:58.83
>>John Bradshaw: Thanks for
joining me on It Is Written.
00:08:59.87\00:09:02.67
For most people life is busy.
00:09:02.70\00:09:05.57
There's work and
home life and obligations
00:09:05.61\00:09:08.71
and responsibilities that
occur outside of all of that.
00:09:08.74\00:09:12.35
And you've got to
take personal time
00:09:12.38\00:09:13.92
and time for friends and family.
00:09:13.95\00:09:15.72
It's not uncommon for
students to be carrying
00:09:15.75\00:09:18.05
a heavy class
load, as well as working
00:09:18.09\00:09:20.72
and maintaining
friendships and so forth,
00:09:20.76\00:09:22.62
and then finding out there's
very little time left over.
00:09:22.66\00:09:25.99
¤[music]¤
00:09:26.03\00:09:27.03
Sometimes it seems life
is too busy for exercise.
00:09:27.10\00:09:30.03
Families strain because it
can be hard to find enough time
00:09:30.07\00:09:33.13
to invest in a marriage
or to dedicate to children.
00:09:33.17\00:09:35.97
Some people feel they don't
have enough time to eat well.
00:09:36.00\00:09:39.74
Fast food is
such an easy option,
00:09:39.77\00:09:42.58
and ultimately your
health suffers as a result.
00:09:42.61\00:09:47.35
So we don't have enough time.
00:09:47.38\00:09:49.72
Except maybe we do.
00:09:49.75\00:09:52.39
The Washington Post
reported on a study from the CDC
00:09:52.42\00:09:55.92
that revealed
people have, on average,
00:09:55.96\00:09:58.53
"more than five hours
of leisure time each day."
00:09:58.56\00:10:01.70
Between 1965 and 2003,
"the average American workweek
00:10:01.73\00:10:06.10
"actually
declined by three hours,
00:10:06.13\00:10:08.50
while leisure time increased."
00:10:08.54\00:10:11.11
"In one study of more
than 7,000 working Australians,
00:10:11.14\00:10:14.88
researchers declared that
time pressure is an 'illusion.'"
00:10:14.91\00:10:19.48
The research demonstrated
people had more free time
00:10:19.51\00:10:22.25
in their
schedules than they thought.
00:10:22.28\00:10:24.95
Studies show that TV is
the leisure activity of choice,
00:10:24.99\00:10:28.69
taking up almost half
of people's leisure time,
00:10:28.72\00:10:32.33
according to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
00:10:32.36\00:10:35.13
A report from the CDC suggested
devoting 20 or 30 minutes
00:10:35.16\00:10:38.60
of that time to exercising.
00:10:38.63\00:10:40.97
And surely that
would be a good thing.
00:10:41.00\00:10:43.30
But the question
I want to ask is,
00:10:43.34\00:10:46.04
how much time are
people devoting to God?
00:10:46.07\00:10:50.48
What about devotional time?
00:10:50.51\00:10:53.65
No question, it's important
to be healthy physically.
00:10:53.68\00:10:57.32
But how important is it
to be healthy spiritually?
00:10:57.35\00:11:00.96
Your relationship with God is
the most important relationship
00:11:00.99\00:11:03.89
you have, bar
none, by a million miles.
00:11:03.93\00:11:08.13
But
relationships are made of time.
00:11:08.16\00:11:11.73
If you're not putting time
into a connection with God,
00:11:11.77\00:11:14.20
then, more than likely, there's
no real connection with God.
00:11:14.24\00:11:18.81
Now, there are some people--
mothers of young children,
00:11:18.84\00:11:21.34
for example,
maybe medical students--
00:11:21.38\00:11:23.75
simply struggle to find
time for anything at all.
00:11:23.78\00:11:26.78
And that's to be understood.
00:11:26.82\00:11:28.32
These time pressures are real,
but they're typically temporary
00:11:28.35\00:11:32.15
because little
children become bigger children
00:11:32.19\00:11:34.72
and over time
require a little less time.
00:11:34.76\00:11:36.96
And after graduation
or maybe after year two,
00:11:36.99\00:11:39.83
medical students
have it a little better.
00:11:39.86\00:11:42.36
But the vast majority of
the rest of us simply do have
00:11:42.40\00:11:45.97
the time to invest in spiritual
growth, in experiencing God,
00:11:46.00\00:11:50.07
in character development,
00:11:50.11\00:11:52.47
in getting to know Jesus
as He wants us to know Him.
00:11:52.51\00:11:56.71
Jesus invites
us again and again:
00:11:56.75\00:11:59.71
"Come to me, ... and
I will give you rest."
00:11:59.75\00:12:04.82
"Him that cometh to me I
will in no wise cast out."
00:12:04.85\00:12:09.19
"Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace,
00:12:09.22\00:12:10.93
whose mind is stayed on Thee:
because he trusteth in Thee."
00:12:10.96\00:12:13.93
That's Isaiah 26:3.
00:12:13.96\00:12:15.76
Those verses are
speaking of a connection,
00:12:15.80\00:12:18.97
a connection built on time.
00:12:19.00\00:12:23.00
So how do you
establish and maintain
00:12:23.04\00:12:25.21
that connection with God?
00:12:25.24\00:12:26.68
Listen to what David
wrote in Psalm 63, verse 1:
00:12:26.71\00:12:29.68
"O God, You are my
God; early will I seek You."
00:12:29.71\00:12:36.52
Notice that David
put God first--"early."
00:12:36.55\00:12:41.12
Before the day consumes
your time and attention,
00:12:41.16\00:12:45.16
the key is to put God first.
00:12:45.19\00:12:48.40
Pray before you check your
email or texts or social media.
00:12:48.43\00:12:53.34
Read the Bible
before you read the news.
00:12:53.37\00:12:56.54
Don't turn on the TV until after
you've spent time with God.
00:12:56.57\00:13:01.38
Life is busy, and
if you allow it to,
00:13:01.41\00:13:04.15
it'll overwhelm
your spiritual life.
00:13:04.18\00:13:07.22
I'm hearing somebody say,
"I leave for work at 6:00 a.m.,
00:13:07.25\00:13:09.98
"and that means I'd have to
get out of bed earlier than I do
00:13:10.02\00:13:12.65
so that I can
spend time with God."
00:13:12.69\00:13:14.72
Now, just a minute,
00:13:14.76\00:13:16.22
you know what you're
talking about here, right?
00:13:16.26\00:13:18.13
A saving connection with God--
00:13:18.16\00:13:20.30
it's the most
important thing in your life.
00:13:20.33\00:13:23.06
You just can't afford to say,
"My schedule doesn't allow it,"
00:13:23.10\00:13:26.03
or "I'm too busy,"
00:13:26.07\00:13:27.54
or "I can't be
bothered getting out of bed."
00:13:27.57\00:13:30.54
If you have an early
start, make it earlier.
00:13:30.57\00:13:33.38
Go to bed half an
hour or an hour earlier.
00:13:33.41\00:13:36.18
You won't regret it.
It's what everyone needs.
00:13:36.21\00:13:40.02
Better to miss a TV program
than to not spend time with God.
00:13:40.05\00:13:45.89
What's actually happening
is that people are putting
00:13:45.92\00:13:48.29
Facebook and Instagram
and YouTube or whatever
00:13:48.32\00:13:51.13
ahead of God--which
just makes no sense at all.
00:13:51.16\00:13:55.43
Now, the person who really
does have a jam-packed schedule
00:13:55.46\00:13:58.53
might need to get creative.
00:13:58.57\00:14:00.37
It might be that you pray at
home and then read your Bible
00:14:00.40\00:14:03.51
on the train. Or if you can't
find as much time as you want,
00:14:03.54\00:14:06.64
read your Bible when you're
waiting for an appointment
00:14:06.68\00:14:08.71
or at the doctor's office.
00:14:08.74\00:14:10.51
Gather up the fragments of time
00:14:10.55\00:14:12.88
and you'll find that they
add up to something significant.
00:14:12.91\00:14:16.89
It's imperative
we work this out.
00:14:16.92\00:14:19.02
Devote time to praying and
reading the Bible regularly,
00:14:19.05\00:14:22.39
daily, and you're investing
in the very best that there is.
00:14:22.42\00:14:26.70
You're doing yourself
the biggest favor you could,
00:14:26.73\00:14:30.07
and you're honoring God
and drawing near to His heart.
00:14:30.10\00:14:35.07
Jesus said,
00:14:35.10\00:14:36.27
"Seek...first the kingdom
of God, and His righteousness;
00:14:36.30\00:14:40.14
and all these things
[will] be added unto you."
00:14:40.18\00:14:42.98
That's Matthew 6:33.
00:14:43.01\00:14:45.38
You want to put God first.
00:14:45.41\00:14:48.15
Jesus said, "My sheep
hear my voice" in John 10:27.
00:14:48.18\00:14:53.46
But without making time for
God, you won't hear His voice.
00:14:53.49\00:14:58.29
In Mark 1, you read
that Jesus healed people
00:14:58.33\00:15:01.06
and cast out demons. Where did
the power to do that come from?
00:15:01.10\00:15:05.40
Verse 35: "And in the
morning, rising up a great while
00:15:05.43\00:15:09.34
"before day, He went out, and
departed into a solitary place,
00:15:09.37\00:15:14.78
and there prayed."
00:15:14.81\00:15:17.35
Even Jesus recognized
the absolute necessity
00:15:17.38\00:15:21.08
of quality, uninterrupted
time with His Father.
00:15:21.12\00:15:25.75
If it was necessary for Jesus,
00:15:25.79\00:15:28.86
then you know
it's necessary for us.
00:15:28.89\00:15:31.89
Daniel prayed three times a day.
00:15:31.93\00:15:35.30
You don't want to let anything
keep you from connecting
00:15:35.33\00:15:37.93
with the heart of God.
00:15:37.97\00:15:39.13
Remember, we're
in a spiritual war.
00:15:39.17\00:15:43.10
There's an enemy doing battle
against the people of God.
00:15:43.14\00:15:46.64
Paul wrote, "We wrestle
not against flesh and blood,
00:15:46.68\00:15:50.81
"but against
principalities, against powers,
00:15:50.85\00:15:53.78
"against the rulers of
the darkness of this world,
00:15:53.82\00:15:56.69
against spiritual
wickedness in high places."
00:15:56.72\00:15:59.42
Ephesians 6:12.
00:15:59.45\00:16:00.82
John wrote in Revelation
that the devil is making war
00:16:00.86\00:16:04.79
against God's people.
00:16:04.83\00:16:06.49
Your defense is
the presence of God,
00:16:06.53\00:16:09.43
which you'll experience
when you take time with Him.
00:16:09.46\00:16:14.40
And keep in mind:
00:16:14.44\00:16:15.87
A devotional life
isn't just a duty.
00:16:15.90\00:16:19.21
It's a privilege. It's a joy.
00:16:19.24\00:16:22.38
You pray so you can
know God. You read the Bible,
00:16:22.41\00:16:25.45
and you grow closer to God
as His thoughts fill your mind.
00:16:25.48\00:16:29.38
Not having enough time shouldn't
ever keep you from God.
00:16:29.42\00:16:33.79
One of the devil's
most effective tactics
00:16:33.82\00:16:35.82
is to make people so busy
00:16:35.86\00:16:37.76
that they feel that
they don't have time for God.
00:16:37.79\00:16:40.03
He'll distract you so
that your life is filled up
00:16:40.06\00:16:42.83
by other things,
many of them good things.
00:16:42.86\00:16:45.60
And as a result,
there's less and less room
00:16:45.63\00:16:48.80
for the God of heaven.
00:16:48.84\00:16:51.01
Coming up: Long ago God
saw the world as busy as it is,
00:16:51.04\00:16:56.68
and He intentionally made
plans for us to get enough time
00:16:56.71\00:17:00.78
with Him. How did He do that?
00:17:00.82\00:17:03.42
I'll tell you in just a moment.
00:17:03.45\00:17:05.65
¤[music swells, then ends]¤¤
00:17:05.69\00:17:12.66
>>Announcer: "The Hope of
Glory" is a new devotional book
00:17:14.73\00:17:16.90
written by John Bradshaw.
00:17:16.93\00:17:18.30
Written with you in mind, the
365 Bible-based daily readings
00:17:18.33\00:17:21.87
cover a wide range
of important topics
00:17:21.90\00:17:23.81
to fuel your spiritual journey.
00:17:23.84\00:17:25.64
To order "The Hope of Glory,"
00:17:25.67\00:17:26.74
call 800-253-3000
00:17:26.78\00:17:29.21
or visit us online
at itiswritten.shop.
00:17:29.24\00:17:32.31
It Is Written viewers
can use the promo code "HOPE"
00:17:32.35\00:17:34.75
when ordering
"The Hope of Glory"
00:17:34.78\00:17:36.08
to get $5 off
the purchase price.
00:17:36.12\00:17:38.35
"The Hope of Glory,"
00:17:38.39\00:17:39.55
call 800-253-3000
00:17:39.59\00:17:42.32
or visit itiswritten.shop.
00:17:42.36\00:17:44.53
>>John Bradshaw:
There are some things
00:17:45.86\00:17:46.96
you don't want to forget,
and there are some things
00:17:47.00\00:17:49.90
God specifically
tells us to remember.
00:17:49.93\00:17:53.00
At the dawn of time,
the Creator of the universe
00:17:53.03\00:17:56.07
gifted to the human
family a divine prescription
00:17:56.10\00:17:59.71
for combating stress, busyness,
and the pressures of daily life,
00:17:59.74\00:18:04.38
a regular blessing of
time spent in the heart of God.
00:18:04.41\00:18:07.55
¤[soft music]¤
00:18:07.58\00:18:08.55
Don't miss "A Day to Remember."
00:18:08.58\00:18:11.15
We'll travel to the largest
Ten Commandments in the world
00:18:11.19\00:18:14.32
and rediscover
heaven's purpose for your life.
00:18:14.36\00:18:17.66
"A Day to Remember,"
00:18:17.69\00:18:18.73
a personal God seeking
a meaningful connection
00:18:18.76\00:18:21.60
with His children, a way
forward for spiritual renewal.
00:18:21.63\00:18:25.70
We'll open the Bible together
and learn that God has blessings
00:18:25.73\00:18:29.34
for His children that are
being overlooked and neglected.
00:18:29.37\00:18:33.48
Get more from God;
go deeper in your faith.
00:18:33.51\00:18:36.64
"A Day to Remember,"
00:18:36.68\00:18:38.41
watch now on It Is Written TV.
00:18:38.45\00:18:41.32
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:18:41.35\00:18:42.35
>>John Bradshaw: Several
years ago, construction began
00:18:45.42\00:18:47.62
inside a mountain in west
Texas on a 10,000-year clock.
00:18:47.66\00:18:53.23
That is, the clock is intended
to keep time for 10,000 years.
00:18:53.26\00:18:57.30
It'll tick once a year and
chime once every 1,000 years.
00:18:57.33\00:19:03.20
The purpose of the
clock-- ah, well, who knows.
00:19:03.24\00:19:06.07
Funded by Amazon's Jeff
Bezos, when it's completed,
00:19:06.11\00:19:09.31
it's going to be 500 feet tall.
00:19:09.34\00:19:11.65
It'll be powered by
the earth's thermal cycles,
00:19:11.68\00:19:14.92
and it'll cost tens
of millions of dollars...
00:19:14.95\00:19:17.55
to mark time almost 2,000
feet above the valley floor
00:19:17.59\00:19:22.06
inside a mountain, hours
from the nearest airport.
00:19:22.09\00:19:26.56
On the campus of the
University of Colorado Boulder,
00:19:26.59\00:19:29.46
there's a strontium
optical atomic clock.
00:19:29.50\00:19:33.03
It's one of the most
accurate clocks on the planet.
00:19:33.07\00:19:36.60
It's said to be
accurate to within a second
00:19:36.64\00:19:39.87
over 15 billion years.
00:19:39.91\00:19:42.88
That's a long way
from obelisks and sundials.
00:19:42.91\00:19:45.81
And it
demonstrates, in some sense,
00:19:45.85\00:19:47.65
humanity's
fascination with time.
00:19:47.68\00:19:50.65
There have been oodles of books
written on time management.
00:19:50.69\00:19:53.89
Some of them have
probably been somewhat useful.
00:19:53.92\00:19:56.06
But real time
management is more than likely
00:19:56.09\00:19:58.73
real project
management or self-management.
00:19:58.76\00:20:02.86
You can learn to be efficient.
00:20:02.90\00:20:04.63
You can't stop time.
You can't pause time.
00:20:04.67\00:20:06.77
You can't delay time.
00:20:06.80\00:20:08.50
And even when
you're managing your time,
00:20:08.54\00:20:11.17
the clock is still ticking.
00:20:11.21\00:20:15.51
So what's so important
that you'd allow it to keep you
00:20:15.54\00:20:18.51
from spending time with God?
00:20:18.55\00:20:20.88
Between work and sleep and
TV and the internet and shopping
00:20:20.92\00:20:24.69
and eating and drinking
and household responsibilities,
00:20:24.72\00:20:28.49
you need to find time for God.
00:20:28.52\00:20:30.56
God said long ago, "And
you will seek me and find me,
00:20:30.59\00:20:35.30
when you search for
me with all your heart."
00:20:35.33\00:20:38.57
But if you're
spending a day a week online
00:20:38.60\00:20:40.60
and several hours a
day in front of the TV,
00:20:40.64\00:20:43.61
it's hard to imagine
there's a whole lot of time left
00:20:43.64\00:20:47.04
to seek for God.
00:20:47.08\00:20:48.51
But, nothing
takes God by surprise.
00:20:48.54\00:20:51.48
At the very
foundation of this world,
00:20:51.51\00:20:53.92
God took steps to help
us prioritize time with Him.
00:20:53.95\00:20:59.02
He gave us a regular
reminder of how important it is
00:20:59.05\00:21:02.59
to spend time in His presence.
00:21:02.62\00:21:04.93
What did He do?
00:21:04.96\00:21:06.33
We go way back to
Genesis, chapter 2, to find out:
00:21:06.36\00:21:10.37
"Thus the heavens and
the earth were finished,
00:21:10.40\00:21:13.07
"and all the host of
them. And on the seventh day
00:21:13.10\00:21:16.64
"God ended His work which
He had made; and He rested
00:21:16.67\00:21:20.64
"on the seventh day from
all His work which He had made.
00:21:20.68\00:21:24.35
"And God blessed the
seventh day, and sanctified it:
00:21:24.38\00:21:27.35
"because that in it He
had rested from all His work
00:21:27.38\00:21:30.12
which God created and made."
00:21:30.15\00:21:32.29
And knowing humans might just
forget to take this time out
00:21:32.32\00:21:35.92
for God, He went so
far as to write it down
00:21:35.96\00:21:39.83
in the Ten Commandments:
00:21:39.86\00:21:41.50
"Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
00:21:41.53\00:21:43.87
"Six days shalt thou
labour, and do all thy work:
00:21:43.90\00:21:46.60
but the seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God."
00:21:46.63\00:21:50.37
At the foundation of the world,
00:21:50.41\00:21:52.04
God impressed
upon the human family
00:21:52.07\00:21:55.04
the importance of
taking time for Him.
00:21:55.08\00:21:58.81
Knowing we'd be
pressed, He carved a day
00:21:58.85\00:22:01.92
out of the rock of time
and told us it was imperative
00:22:01.95\00:22:04.79
that we connect with Him.
00:22:04.82\00:22:06.59
But fewer people than
ever are taking this seriously.
00:22:06.62\00:22:10.19
God actually gives you a
day out each week, a day off,
00:22:10.23\00:22:14.73
a release valve--
time, time with Him.
00:22:14.73\00:22:19.00
Who wouldn't want that?
00:22:19.03\00:22:20.57
He set it aside as a blessing,
telling us the weekly rest day
00:22:20.60\00:22:25.14
was made for the human
family, made with you in mind.
00:22:25.17\00:22:29.81
Now, many of our grandparents
took that seriously,
00:22:29.84\00:22:32.88
but as the years have
passed, we've kind of got away
00:22:32.91\00:22:35.88
from the importance of
time set aside for God.
00:22:35.92\00:22:41.19
And what day is
that, the Sabbath day?
00:22:41.22\00:22:43.06
The Bible says
it's the seventh day,
00:22:43.09\00:22:45.23
the day that
today we call Saturday.
00:22:45.26\00:22:47.96
Sunday is the first day
of the week, not the Sabbath.
00:22:47.96\00:22:51.40
Jesus clearly recommended
we keep the Sabbath day holy.
00:22:51.43\00:22:54.20
The early
Christian church did so.
00:22:54.24\00:22:56.07
It's all through
the book of Acts.
00:22:56.10\00:22:57.74
The book of Revelation says
God's people in the end of time
00:22:57.77\00:23:01.24
will be keeping the
commandments of God.
00:23:01.28\00:23:03.71
And Sabbath rest is so important
00:23:03.75\00:23:05.45
and so good for us and
our relationship with God
00:23:05.48\00:23:08.55
that God included it
in the Ten Commandments.
00:23:08.58\00:23:11.19
God commands us to
rest, to take time out,
00:23:11.22\00:23:14.52
to pause and rest a while.
00:23:14.56\00:23:16.19
It's important to Him because
He wants the best for you.
00:23:16.22\00:23:19.63
Instituted at Creation, it
seems the Sabbath is one thing
00:23:19.66\00:23:22.83
that has become even more
relevant as time has gone on,
00:23:22.86\00:23:26.53
as society has become busier,
00:23:26.57\00:23:28.60
as demands on
families have increased.
00:23:28.64\00:23:31.37
God says, "Time matters. Be
sure to take time every week,"
00:23:31.41\00:23:37.15
God says, "Sabbath
rest on the seventh day."
00:23:37.18\00:23:41.68
You can think
of time as a talent
00:23:41.72\00:23:44.42
that should be dedicated to God.
00:23:44.45\00:23:46.49
The value of time is
greater than we can calculate,
00:23:46.52\00:23:49.56
and time is short.
James wrote that life is
00:23:49.59\00:23:54.13
"a vapor" which appears for a
moment "and then vanishes away."
00:23:54.20\00:23:58.63
We've barely begun living,
00:23:58.67\00:24:00.90
and we're facing the
end of our time on earth.
00:24:00.94\00:24:03.34
We're on this earth
to prepare for heaven.
00:24:03.37\00:24:05.24
That's why we're here.
00:24:05.27\00:24:06.94
In the parable in Luke 12,
00:24:06.98\00:24:09.21
a man's fields
were very productive.
00:24:09.24\00:24:12.08
So he built bigger
storehouses to store his wealth.
00:24:12.11\00:24:15.65
God said to him,
00:24:15.68\00:24:17.22
"This night your soul
will be required of you."
00:24:17.25\00:24:21.49
He died a lost man.
00:24:21.52\00:24:23.53
He had the same amount
of time as anyone else,
00:24:23.56\00:24:26.43
but he didn't put that
time into what really mattered.
00:24:26.46\00:24:29.03
And when his time was up,
it all came crumbling down.
00:24:29.06\00:24:33.64
Every moment we're given
by God is preparatory time,
00:24:33.67\00:24:36.77
time that we're going to
invest one way or another.
00:24:36.81\00:24:39.97
Think of the last 24
hours or maybe your last week.
00:24:40.01\00:24:44.31
How much of that time
have you invested in eternity?
00:24:44.35\00:24:47.85
The Bible says we
should "redeem the time,"
00:24:47.88\00:24:49.98
which means, make the
most of the time we have.
00:24:50.02\00:24:53.62
You have time? Use it for good.
00:24:53.66\00:24:56.09
Use it to invest in
yourself and in others.
00:24:56.12\00:24:58.29
Use it to better the world.
00:24:58.33\00:25:00.23
Use it to grow your
relationship with God.
00:25:00.26\00:25:03.70
Time wasted is
time you can't get back.
00:25:03.73\00:25:07.20
Like so many others,
00:25:07.24\00:25:08.97
David Cassidy
understood that, too late.
00:25:09.00\00:25:13.81
Is it time for you to reassess
the way you're using your time?
00:25:13.84\00:25:18.15
Are you spending
adequate time with God?
00:25:18.18\00:25:20.42
Without that time, you'll
fall when temptation comes,
00:25:20.45\00:25:23.39
and it'll be impossible to
reflect the character of Jesus.
00:25:23.42\00:25:26.69
Without time in
the presence of God,
00:25:26.72\00:25:28.72
transformation
doesn't take place,
00:25:28.76\00:25:31.53
and your mind isn't anchored
in the things of heaven.
00:25:31.56\00:25:34.36
Instead, it's
all over the place.
00:25:34.40\00:25:37.73
God calls you to
time with Him every day
00:25:37.77\00:25:40.97
and to weekly rest where
the world takes a back seat
00:25:41.00\00:25:44.81
and you're liberated to focus
on God and the things of heaven
00:25:44.84\00:25:47.74
and to enjoy His presence.
00:25:47.78\00:25:50.21
If you've not been taking
time for God like you should,
00:25:50.25\00:25:53.78
we'll pray and ask
that that will change.
00:25:53.82\00:25:56.08
We'll ask God to
lead you in working it out
00:25:56.12\00:25:58.92
so that you're
spending quality time with Him.
00:25:58.95\00:26:02.12
Through time in His presence,
you can grow unto "the measure
00:26:02.16\00:26:06.23
of the stature of
the fullness of Christ."
00:26:06.26\00:26:09.60
Only with Him, never
without time with Him.
00:26:09.63\00:26:15.47
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:26:16.47\00:26:18.44
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:26:18.47\00:26:21.84
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:26:21.88\00:26:25.11
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:26:25.15\00:26:29.35
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:26:29.38\00:26:30.82
to the address on your screen,
00:26:30.85\00:26:32.32
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:32.35\00:26:36.19
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:26:36.22\00:26:38.99
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:26:39.03\00:26:43.10
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:43.13\00:26:46.13
>>John: Let me pray for you.
00:26:47.44\00:26:48.57
Let's pray together
that your time on this earth
00:26:48.60\00:26:52.17
would be time well spent.
00:26:52.21\00:26:53.51
¤[soft music]¤
00:26:53.54\00:26:54.68
Our Father in heaven,
thank You for the gift of time.
00:26:54.71\00:26:57.61
We all have the same
amount of time every day--
00:26:57.65\00:27:00.08
different responsibilities,
different lives,
00:27:00.12\00:27:02.98
but the same amount of time.
00:27:03.02\00:27:05.05
Teach us, Lord, to invest our
time wisely, putting You first,
00:27:05.09\00:27:09.32
not giving You the
leftovers of our lives.
00:27:09.36\00:27:12.49
And we thank You that
You always take time for us.
00:27:12.53\00:27:16.30
You're always present,
always near, always listening.
00:27:16.33\00:27:20.24
And, Lord, we thank You
that Jesus came to this earth
00:27:20.27\00:27:22.70
and gave all of His time for us.
00:27:22.74\00:27:25.84
Give us grace to
honor His investment in us,
00:27:25.87\00:27:28.64
that we'll have an eternity
of time to spend with You.
00:27:28.68\00:27:32.71
Friend, can you ask
God now to guide you
00:27:32.75\00:27:36.69
so that you have time for Him?
00:27:36.72\00:27:38.75
Quality time.
00:27:38.79\00:27:40.99
Bless us to that
end, Lord, we ask of You,
00:27:41.02\00:27:43.89
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:27:43.93\00:27:47.23
Thank you so
much for joining me.
00:27:47.30\00:27:49.10
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:49.13\00:27:51.40
Until then, remember:
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"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
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but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
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¤[dramatic theme music]¤
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¤[music ends]¤¤
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