August 8, 2023 - Good Morning! It's Tuesday, August 8.
How are you reading this? On what kind of device? A desk computer, laptop, tablet? I'm going to guess that most of you are reading these words on your smart phone. 85% of Americans have one now. It is a communications revolution. We are connected to the world 24/7.
But has the smart phone truly made us more connected? The average 14-year-old is on their phone nine hours a day. Have you tried to connect with a 14-year-old lately? It's a challenge! Everywhere we go, we see people on their cell phones - at the grocery store, at the ball game, at work meetings and family gatherings. And yes, even at church - and they're not always on Bible.com!
In the midst of all this information sharing, are we missing much of what is truly meaningful in life? In spite of all this connecting, are many people feeling more and more disconnected, lonely, and alone? These are important questions for each of us to consider - parents, children, Christians.
The Apostle Paul speaks to us today in Ephesians 5:15-16. "Be very careful how you live - not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil". I like the phrase found in the King James Version - "redeem the time". Some families have instituted "no phone periods" in their homes, when they're sharing supper, when they're on a trip. Sounds like a plan.
So, be smart, and put your smart phone away once in a while. Have a face-to-face conversation, or at least, a voice-to-voice one. Connect to the world in an old school way. Write a letter, read a book, smell the roses. Be wise. Redeem the time.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
