Some New Year Thoughts

As I’ve contemplated the New Year these words have been running through my mind.

‘See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.’

Friends, as we enter this New Year we’re to walk carefully, wisely, redeeming the time.

Why?

Because the days are evil.

How are they evil?

We see sin all around us, man living for self and pleasure rather than for God.

But if we’re true believers, we have been called, as Paul says earlier in this letter, from darkness into light and as such we are to redeem the time.

What does it mean to redeem in this verse?

‘To rescue from loss.’

‘To make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good,’

Friends, we are to redeem every moment of time, to rescue those precious minutes from being lost to the world and claim them for the glorify God.

Just as Christ redeemed us, just as he bought us back from slavery to sin with his blood so we must redeem the time buying back each opportunity we are given, taking each moment from self and living it for the glory of God.

‘And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.’

Not doing to earn God’s favour but doing because we love Him and as an overflow of that love, living for God and His glory.

‘For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen’.

What does that look like?

We’re doing a mundane task, maybe photocopying in the office or ironing, we can use those moments to meditate on God’s word or to pray for our colleagues or family.

What about in the tasks that take concentration? What is our why? Why are we doing it, how are we doing it?

Are we doing it grudgingly because we have to or to gain favour with others or are we doing it joyfully, cheerfully for God’s glory?

How? By God’s grace, with His help, through the power and wisdom of God that is in each true Believer through Christ Jesus, redeeming each moment, living each moment for Him!

We may make resolution as we begin a New Year but it’s only by God’s help that He will glorified through us in 2022.

We may resolve to lose weight and exercise more, a good resolve but what is our why?

So we look better, so we’re more attractive or so that God might be glorified in our life?

Do we want to be healthy so we can better serve God?

Friends are we walking in the light, redeeming the time?

Believe me, I’m far from perfect but by God’s grace may we each be helped to live moment by moment for the glory of God in 2022!!

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Eph 5:15-16, Col 3:17, Rom 11:36, Eph 5:8