The above is a phrase found in Ephesians 5:16.  The Greek word for redeem means “market” as in the kind of marketplace you would find in the center of an ancient city.  One image of redemption, therefore, is to regaining possession of something by purchasing it as if it were found in a market.

Our time is indeed up for grabs.  It is “for sale”.  We get to choose whether we spend the effort to take charge of our time and make something of it.

If we lose money, we can make more.  If our house burns, we can build another.  Time cannot be regained, however.  Time can only be used as it comes to us to do whatever ought to be done.... by me or you.

Since time well-secured/well-spent seldom happens randomly, we must be deliberate in making plans for our time.  Imagine right now what plans you might make for the Lord’s work in your life.  How much thought could you put into...

• training up your children or grandchildren in the way of the Lord?
• strengthening your marriage relationship?
• reaching out to family and friends who are lost without Christ?
• supporting a ministry of the church with your involvement?
• supporting some aspect of the Lord’s work with your money?
• educating yourself in some area of Bible study?
• training yourself to pray regularly about people or situations who need prayer?

I make plans for the things I am passionate about.  I take the time to do that.  We always seem to find time for the things that are most important to us.

To say “yes” to one time worthy activity, however, means that we have to say “no” to something else.  Until we are ready to say “no”, nothing in our lives will change.  We have both the freedom and the power to say “yes” and redeem the time with good.

We cannot be good enough, or disciplined enough to redeem every moment of our time, but we can take back enough of it to make a difference... if we simply take the time to deliberately plan to take the time.