Redeeming the Time
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:14–16
“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.”
Redeeming the Time
Lord Jesus, we love to call your name for your name is our only hope. At the name of Jesus, things in heaven and earth, and things within and around us all must bow. So, today we call your name upon time. We ask you to redeem our time because the days are evil. We thank you because no challenge including time can withstand the name of Jesus.
It is possible to be spiritually asleep. When you are asleep, you are alive but can do nothing, and do not know what is happening around you. Some are in that state of spiritual slumber and God is telling us to wake up and redeem the time.
In order to understand the redemption of time, one must understand the concept of time. Time is the period between two eternities allocated to every person born on earth. At birth, each one is released from eternity past into time, and at death when one’s assignment on earth is completed, each one will be released into eternity to come. We are in the realm of time and although we cannot control it, God can and does control time. Our time is in His hands and He is able to redeem it.
Let us open our spiritual eyes and confess that we have not made the most of our time; we have procrastinated and even slept. But the Book of Joel offers encouragement: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed,” Joel 2:25–26. Here, the locust has eaten the years of the Israelites.
For many of us, the locust has eaten our time, leaving us feeling defeated. We cannot afford to continue wasting time because the Bible says that these days are evil. I assure you that God will honour His Word in that He will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten. God is able to do this and cause you to celebrate like David: “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s,” Psalm 103:1–5.
If you perpetually cultivate and maintain sensitivity to God’s presence, He will redeem your time by renewing your youth like the eagle’s. God is calling you to enter into His Presence, because in His Presence there will be times of refreshing, Acts 3:19. In His Presence, your youth will be renewed like the eagle’s and the time that the locust has eaten will be restored.
The Word of God says, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast,” Isaiah 26:20. God is calling you into that place of intimacy with Him. Draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to you.
Prayer Points:
Father God Almighty, I pray that in your mercy, you will give us the grace to draw nigh to you. Redeem our time, O Lord, in the name of Jesus, and let that time be well spent in your Presence. In your faithfulness, restore to us all the years that the locust has eaten.
