Redeeming the Time

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Paul reminds the believers at Ephesus that they must walk circumspectly.  The word circumspectly means, cautiously; with watchfulness every way.  The Christian is to walk cautiously realizing that we have a very real enemy that is very adept at setting traps and snares before us.  Circumspectly means that we have to be watchful every way.  The things we do, the things we say, the places we go, the thoughts we think.  As Christians we have to guard our conversation (Manner of Life).  We represent the Lord Jesus Christ and we don't want  to do anything to bring reproach upon Him.  We are to walk as the wise, not as fools.  The world is full of people that want to chart their own course and live their lives according to their own desires.  To be wise we have to seek God's guidance and leadership in our lives.

Paul warns the believers to redeem the time.  One of the definitions for the word redeem is "To capture".  As believers we are to capture the time.  We realize that time is fleeting and we only have such a short time here in this life to carry out the work that God has called us to.  The days are evil because they have a way of filling our lives with temporal things that distract us from caring for the eternal things.  James 4:14 "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."  We don't know the span of our life.  We have to be diligent about doing the work that God has given us to do.  We don't know if we have another tomorrow.  Jesus understood this concept during His earthly ministry, John 9:4 "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."  Just as the night was coming for Jesus to complete His earthly ministry the night is falling for us.  There will be a time when we will lay down this body and leave this life behind and go out into eternity to face God.  Let's accomplish the work that God has given to us!