REDEEMING the TIME
“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. 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” (Col 4:2-6).
To redeem something means to buy it back, to regain possession of it. Time is a gift from God, and none of us know how much of it we are allotted. Only God knows how much time each of us has on this earth to make decisions that will impact eternity (Psalm 139:16). When God says we should be “redeeming the time,” He wants us to live in constant awareness of that ticking clock and make the most of the time we have. In fact, the NIV’s translation of Ephesians 5:16 uses the phrase making the most of every opportunity instead of redeeming the time. Rather than waste our days on frivolous pursuits that leave no lasting imprint, Scripture instructs us to be diligent about doing good (Titus 3:8).
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 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. Wherefore he saith, 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” (Eph 5:6-16).
Jesus taught His disciples the necessity of redeeming the time: “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Jesus was diligent about keeping to His mission.
PRAISE & WORSHIP:
WHEN I THINK OF THE GOODNESS
I WILL SING OF THE MERCIES
I’M SINGING WONDERFUL
BECAUSE HE LIVES
I FEEL LIKE TRAVELING ON 243
LOOKING FOR A CITY 239
HE TOUCHED ME
PRAYER REQUEST: Candace Hensel, Yolanda Garcia, Tim Allen, Judith Weir family, Christine Elisabeth, Jim Partain, Nola NZ. Kimberly Palmer, Jim Ludwig an aneurism, Pastor Yaqub Sadiq, The youth of this generation, Kaeden Hensel, Kim Deese, Jennifer Myers to be cancer free and for mental health problems, Sarah Riley, Ricky Riley, 10 year old Sergio has leukemia. Joey Curcio
WORSHIP IN OFFERING: BECAUSE HE LIVES
SPECIAL SONG: HE IS LORD
SERMON: BRO JOEL MCNABB
Redeeming the Time