Redeem The Time

 See then that you walk in a careful and prudent way, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. – Ephesians 5:15-17

The other day I was speaking to a man who had recently lost his wife to cancer. About a month before she passed she told him she knew her time was short. He asked her if knowing that made her want a drink and she responded absolutely not. She was a recovering alcoholic who had recently celebrated over 15 years of sobriety. She wasn’t going to finish her race giving in to the enemy. She wanted her story to be one of victory.

In the Bible the psalmist prayed for wisdom to understand how brief his time was, to number his days so that he might live them for God. (Psalm 90:10-12).

What would you do if you only had a month to live? It’s a question we’ve heard before but often rattle off some grand adventure we would take for our last hurrah. But really, what would you do?

I admire my friend’s response that she wanted her life to be a living testimony of victory through Christ. Regardless of the daily pain and sickness she was dealing with, she didn’t want to numb it and lose the message her life had become.

The bible tells us to number our days and to redeem the time we have. Each day is a precious gift and it’s also time we will never get back. What are you doing with the day you have graciously been given? What are you doing with the talents and gifts God has given you?

We can start by asking God how we can best serve Him with what we have and who we are. We can choose to live each day for Him and make the decision to live our lives as living, breathing testimonies of the wonderful God we love and serve.

Christ redeemed my friend thousands of years ago on the cross. She in turn redeemed her days in faithful service to her King.