Redeeming the Time
“Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil”. Ephesians 5:15-16 AMPC
As I begin this year, I am reminded that with each new gift that is given to us by God is indeed another opportunity given by Him to bring glory to His Name – a new baby, a new spouse, a new church, a new friend, a new job, a new school, a new home, a new day, and yes a new year. There is no gift like the present; thus, it is called the present for that reason; it is a gift. What one does with this gift (the present ) determines one’s future while utilizing the past. Thus, in considering the present, one must observe the time.
Paul admonished the Ephesians to “ …awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:14-16 KJV). The word redeem translates in the Greek as exagorazo. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament defines redeem as 2.) To buy up, to buy for one’s self, for one’s use. 2A.) to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own.
The believer makes investments in His Kingdom. To redeem means to buy; thus one buys into His Kingdom. We must take hold of time as if we purchased it ourselves. We must seize it like there is no tomorrow. Opportunity stands at the door waiting for the believer – the person who has allowed the Light of God to shine in his or her life and has been awakened to the fact that the days are evil; these are desperate times. The Bible calls the days that we live in perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1).
Paul also encouraged the Colossians Church of the importance of redeeming the time. “Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity. Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].” Colossians 4:5-6 AMPC
The Bible declares that if any man be in Christ, he or she is a new creature (II Cor. 5:17). The born again believer can become a partaker, partner, and associate in His Divine Nature (II Pet. 1:4). Partaking in His Divine Nature is who we are as Christians; we have been born again. We are to be the face of God to this world displaying HIS Character and His Nature through our relations and speech to others (Christians and non-Christians). Our behavior will either draw others to Christ or push them away. We are to be the epitome of God’s Grace to the world. Our world is craving for that which is authentic; our world has no tolerance for fake Christians. Our Christianity cannot just be in words, but our Christianity must be felt and seen by the world.
Living life on purpose forces one to carefully observe time and spend it well. This gift from God, the present, is priceless, and every minute matters. This New Year ( 365 days and 8,760 hours) — Opportunity (the present gift from God); what will you do with it? The days and times are evil. They are filled with much stress and trouble, but they are perfect opportunities to be God’s face, hands, and feet to the world. These are perfect opportunities to share your faith and life experiences. Paul encouraged the Romans to, “Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good” Romans 12:21. We can overcome the evil in this world by being the “present gift” of God, and utilizing every minute of the day to bring Glory and Honor to Him. Let your purpose and passion be driven this year by becoming the “present gift “ to your family, your co-worker, your boss, your next door neighbor, your teacher, the grocery store clerk, the person you share the roads within driving, etc. Destroy this present darkness by dispersing His Light of Truth to everyone who comes in contact with you.
GO G.R.E.E.N.
Tonda Loyd Henry