REDEEMING THE TIME

(Ephesians 5:15-16)

   Redeem – The Greek word that is translated to redeem is a compound word that basically means “to purchase out of the marketplace”.  Paul uses the same word in Colossians 4:5 and it takes on the same general meaning as in Ephesians 5:16 and that is to make the most of every opportunity.

REALIZE THE TIME

   Romans 13:11 Paul tells us that time is valuable and for those that have wasted it up until now, it is time to wake up out of our spiritual sleep because the Lord is coming soon and we must give account.

   II Corinthians 6:2 If some have not yet received the gift of eternal life that God has provided to the world, do it today because there is no promise of tomorrow.

   Joshua 24:15 Joshua told the nation that each of us have a choice to make, whether we will serve the world, the flesh, and the devil or serve the Lord. It is time to make a choice on who we will serve.

 TIME IS SHORT

   Psalm 90:10, 12 The Psalmist tells us that our life is so brief that it is like a bird that is here one day and then flies away and is gone. The moral of this Psalm is that life is to be treasured and used wisely.

   James 4:14 The Lord's brother tells us that he sees life as a vapor that appears from the boiling kettle for a brief moment and then before it hits the ceiling it has disappeared.

   I Peter 1:24 The old fisherman Peter writes about life like a poet as he compares our life and all our earthly accomplishments to the grass and flowers of the field, beautiful for a time but soon gone.

TIME AND OPPORTUNITY

   Luke 12:16-21 This parable is about some who waste their lives in selfishness and greed. God gives good health, rain and prosperity to some who misuse the golden opportunities of life and become fools.

   Matthew 25:14-18 Another parable from the Lord teaches us that God gives opportunity to each of His servants according to our abilities. He then gives each of us opportunity to use what He has given to us for the right purpose in order to give back to Him and glorify Him.

   John 9:1-4 The greatest example of the best use of the time that God has given to us comes from Jesus during His earthly ministry. He said that He must use every day to work for the Father because the day was coming when He would not be able to continue to work.

   Galatians 6:10 This verse is directed act the Christian and specifically reminds and commands us to take the time to do good for other believers every time we have the opportunity to do so.

   Ephesians 5:15 The word circumspectly means to walk and live cautiously, watchful, and wary in order to avoid the pitfalls that the world and the devil have for us. The verse warns us to be careful of our conduct and to live in a manner that would stand up to the scrutiny of neighbors and co-workers.

   I Peter 1:17-19 The greatest opportunity we have as Christians is to serve the Lord while we have the time and health to serve Him. He has redeemed us to Himself by His shed blood and death on the cross and we belong to Him.