Redeeming the Time The Bible tells us to “redeem the time”. It is defined in the following verses as, “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.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) As God’s children, we should make the most of every opportunity, carefully determining what pleases him. Jesus called us to let his light within us shine. Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. What does light represent? It appears the light represents the mercy and love of God. Ephesians 5:8 ¶For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: What does darkness represent? It appears darkness represents the judgment of God. Before we obeyed the gospel, we were facing God’s judgment for our sins. When we repented of our sins, were baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, God brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light of mercy and grace. 1Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. We are to walk as children of light, shining as we have received, God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness, for this is good and right and true. We must be led by his Spirit so we may continually please him. Ephesians 5:9-10 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. We must not take part in the worthless deeds of sin which God will judge, but instead we must let God’s love and mercy convict. Ephesians 5:11-13 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Those that are dead in sin need to wake up and repent so that Christ can give them his mercy. Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. We must be careful how we live and “make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good”, because the days are evil. We must listen for the voice of the Lord so we may do his will, which is what our walk is all about. Ephesians 5:15-17 ¶See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. We must make sure our foundation is secure – that we have built it upon the Rock – Jesus Christ. We must repent of any sin, be sure that our sins are washed away according to the apostles’ examples and commands found in the book of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts), and be sure that we are filled with the Spirit of God. We will not only have an inward confirmation of the Holy Ghost, but we will also have the outward sign of speaking in another language as the Spirit of God speaks using our mouth, as described in the book of Acts. (Acts 2:4, Acts 2:11, Acts 10:45-46, Acts 19:6). When our foundation is secure, then we are able to build upon it, being led by the Holy Ghost and doing all in word and deed in the name of Jesus for the glory of God. Once we have obeyed the gospel, we are ready to share the gospel. We are a witness of the power of the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Ghost when we have experienced it for our self! Paul wrote to the church at Colossae, asking for their prayers for God to help them reach the lost with the gospel (Acts 2:38). Colossians 4:2-4 ¶Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Paul also encouraged the Colossian church in their ministry of the gospel, and to walk with wisdom among unbelievers making “wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good.” Colossians 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. We have a calling on our lives to be witnesses of the gospel of Jesus. Let us redeem the time!
Posted on: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 08:09:46 +0000
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