Anchor Bible Church
In my retirement years I’ve taken up the hobby of artistic painting. As with many hobbies it requires a certain amount of materials like brushes, tubes of paint, and canvas which periodically need replacing. Trying to be a smart shopper, I’m always on the lookout for discounts, sales, and coupons.
I get excited when I receive an email from Michael’s Arts and Craft store that contains their largest, 40% off coupon. I’m usually quick to redeem it in a day or two in order to take advantage of the benefits it offers to me. There have been occasions however when I haven’t used it quickly and when I finally do desire to redeem it, I find that I can’t. The expiration date has passed and it no longer has any value. It can only be thrown in the trash.
I believe this is one of the points the apostle Paul is trying to make in Colossians 4:1-6. Redeeming the time wisely. One-on- one witnessing or leaving a tract somewhere is certainly a good example of redeeming our time, but I think it goes further than that. Parents raising their children daily in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Grandparents impacting their grandkids. It could be something as simple as a quick prayer of intercession for the person you overheard using the Lord’s name in vain. If spending the day alone it might be memorizing a verse like Philippians 4:8 (pure thoughts) to help you combat the worldly impurities that constantly seek to gain entrance into our minds and hearts.
The list of examples is endless. So, as each morning sunrise brings forth a new day of opportunities, don’t let your “coupon” of time expire. Use it wisely to bring glory to the Lord, redeeming the time.