Time is a great gift from God. The wicked regard time as opportunity to do what they want, and to complain when they can not do what they want. The righteous see time as opportunity to live for God, and then take the opportunity so to live.

That is the basic meaning of the biblical phrase, redeeming the time.

Time: great gift of God! Not only time on our hands, but time given into our hands, for each second, each breath, each thought, word, and deed of our life. Time as opportunity, to live each moment, consciously, and intentionally, coram Deo, before the face of God, for His praise, and in light of eternity.

Now, right now, in our day when we and this whole world are shaken from our “normal,” by this corona virus pandemic, we are called to redeem the time of economic shut down, inconvenience, and threat.

Just how, now?

In both places in Scripture where we are called to redeem the time (Eph 5:16 and Col 4:5) we are called to be wise. Redeeming the time is how we show we are wise.

To be wise is to live in light of truth, and to apply this truth to our life.

The truth of God’s Word, the Bible is our guide for living wisely, for all time, for right now. It is the revelation of the living Word, Jesus Christ. From it we are given to understand what the will of the Lord is (Eph 5: 16, 17) for our doing that will and word.

Now then we must read and meditate upon that Word, and pray for its light to shine in our heart that we would know Christ and be thankful and be holy in our happiness and happy being holy.

So now when you receive the daily news of CoViD-19, and of the twenty-six thousand plus who have died in America because of it. When your construction job is put on hold. When someone in some government building worried about getting re-elected says you may not drive your boat…With all the time on your hands, and before you are tempted to bicker with the wife, or to play your games and surf the internet, or to put a good buzz on to deal with the anxiety and to file your complaint…with God…

Let the light of the Word shine--enlightening your mind, informing you of the truth and hand of God in these providences and in the opportunities of this present distress. Then may that good truth news calm your soul, and move you to live by faith, with grace, and unto Him.

So enlightened, and moved by the Word, we shall be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

That is to be alive in Christ.

In a world of dead men walking, seeking vaccines and needing Christ. But having no time for Him…

For such a time as this.

With you in Him, confiding in the Savior and His truth and love,