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Listen while you read: "Work For The Night Is Coming"1 (Lyrics) |
These days, there are few daylight hours. Here in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, at latitude 52 degrees, 16 minutes north, on the winter solstice, December 21st, the shortest day of the year, there were 7 hours and 41 minutes of daylight. That was 9 hours and 5 minutes shorter than on the summer solstice six months previously! In the northern hemisphere, we get up and go to bed in the dark. If we didn't have artificial light, the time to do what we need to do would be short indeed.
Psalm 139:12 – But even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. (NLT)
If darkness and light are alike to God, why do we need them? We definitely need them to define times of work and rest, and, figuratively, time and eternity.
Jesus said, "We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:4-5 NLT)
Do we have the same urgency as Jesus did to go about our Father's business in this life, in whatever our sphere of influence is? Many Scriptures speak of the temporal nature of our lives.
Psalm 39:4 – Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered — how fleeting my life is. (NLT)
Sometimes when I think that God wants me to do something, I think, Do I have to do this now? Will I have to do this forever? I once won a hundred dollars for designing a logo. My friend said to me, "Do something significant with it." So, I sent a little boy to camp along with my youngest son. Jeremy accepted the Lord there, but as he didn't live in the same town as we did, and we moved away, we lost contact with him. I have no idea where that boy is now, or what he is doing. All I know is that when I was able, I took the opportunity to make an eternal difference in his life.
Your opportunities for the Lord may not be so dramatic. Usually, mine are not either. Let's be diligent and actively seek opportunities to do good while it is still "day". We may not pass that way again. Let's do what God wants while we have the health and freedom to do so. Let's use our time wisely until our life is ended or Jesus returns.
- Work, for the night is coming;
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill the bright hours with labour;
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.
– Anna Louisa Coghill
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You created day and night, darkness and light for Your purposes. Help us to be mindful of the daylight that You give us, to do what You are telling us to do while we can. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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Thursday, January 23, 2025 – In Europe — Pray for the Jewish community to be encouraged and feel the love of their non-Jewish Christian friends. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open the hearts and minds of these secular Jews, and for God's leadership in my work.
daughter: "Update December 30, 2024: And please touch her heart that she may turn to YOU.* November 12, 2024:..." 
Thanks for the good word, Alice. Happy New Year.
Great reminder as we start into the new year, Alice! God bless!
Thank you, Alice, for sharing this instructive devotional with us!
Blessings.
Wow, Alice! Every word a blessing and a prayer! Wonderful words of life and purpose today. Thanks for writing it.
Good morning, Alice
Thank you for reminding that in the darkness of our lives God gives us His light.
Blessings.
Dear Alice,
Thank you for your very interesting devotional about day and night, wrapped in the example in your Red Deer location. Much wisdom within.
Alice, l was just thinking of this old hymn not long ago, that l have not heard in many, many years. Indeed our time is short. Thanks for the reminder to do something significant with it.
Blessings.
Greetings Alice,
Thank you for another of your very insightful and descriptive devotionals. There is much work we can do for the Lord in our time here on earth and we need be thankful for the Lord’s loving care that helps us get it done. Blessings for your writings.
Good Afternoon and Happy New Year
This is so on time!!!! I would like to use part of it this Sunday when I get a chance to share what God has put on my heart. This lines up with it so nicely. credit will be given to you.
Prayer time with a friend today we were talking about this sort of thing also.
God bless.
Thank you for today’s devotional! The days are now getting longer, and I liked your hymn which I found in one of my hymnals published 0ver 40 years ago. You quoted the second verse, and I also like the first verse, and I can remember singing this hymn many years ago. It also reminded me of Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” I need more wisdom, and I read a Proverb.
Keep on writing those devotionals. Blessings.
Good morning, Alice,
This is a great message that we all need reminding of so often. We get caught up in life and we forget that our “day” has a limit which only God knows. Be reminded to seek those opportunities to do God’s will and good is a worthwhile message.
It was shocking to me to hear the difference in daylight hours from winter solstice to summer solstice in Red Deer. We are on the increase of daylight which I know helps us all get through January and February. As I look out the window this morning the sky is blue and the sun is starting to come through which puts a smile on my face.
What great lyrics to go with your message to reinforce the thoughts you have. It is important that we understand that what we do does not have to be dramatic to be important to someone. Thank you for always being willing to share with us and inspire us. Blessings and best wishes for 2022.