The Daily Paine

God uses delays in our lives to show our true character.”
–Dale A. O’Shields

 “Realizing our moment-by-moment dependence on God the Creator for our very existence makes it appropriate to live lives of devotion, commitment, gratitude, and loyalty toward him, and scandalous not to.  Godliness starts here, with God the sovereign Creator as the first focus of our thoughts.”
 –J.I. Packer

One thing for sure, 2017 is not slowing down in any way.  Goodness, January is already past and gone.  What did I accomplish?  Did I keep my focus on God?
The world is whirling and just as nations are confused and fearful, the earth is beginning to groan from the curse of sin as well.  Looking around and I think that the Lord must surely be getting ready to come.  The Father just has to give the order soon.  There is too much craziness, confusion, and evil is abounding more and more–when is He coming?
He doesn’t delay; our minds might think that He is putting off His return, but not really.  There is a “fullness of time” coming.  The hour may not be yet, but it is surely approaching.  Even the foolishness of the earth is saying that.  I saw that the “Doomsday Clock” is now registering 3 minutes to midnight.  Now, I don’t know how they come up with that.  I do know that Jesus said when we see certain things begin to happen that the end is near.
If in our minds, we think that He is delaying, what are we doing?  Are we keeping our eyes on the sky looking for Him, or are we too entangled with our busy eyes on earth?  If the Lord would return on Sunday, I wonder how many would tell Him to wait until after the Super Bowl.  Are we then living with lackadaisical attitudes or are we living lives of devotion?  Are we becoming dependent upon ourselves and man with all of his technological developments or are we living godly, righteous lives?
With one month already gone, are we doing our all for the Kingdom?  It is imperative in this time that God is indeed the “first focus of our thoughts.”

“For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.”
–Habakkuk 2:3 (NASB)