[Songs in the Night - December 13]
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16
THIS signifies buying back the time, as though
the time were already mortgaged.
And this is so; the
cares of this life, its necessities, the customs of the
world, our fallen tendencies, all would absorb every
hour of life in the things pertaining to this life, whereas
as new creatures our new hopes and aims and
efforts are properly centered upon things above, the
heavenly, the King's matters.
Where may we obtain
the necessary time wherewith to study and to refresh
ourselves in rehearsing the blessings, the promises,
and favors which are ours as new creatures?
And
where may we obtain the time for telling these good
tidings to others?
If we allow the spirit of the world
to direct us we shall have no time for any of these
things and shall fail, but as wise and not as foolish
children of the Lord, we will see and appreciate the
greater importance of the heavenly things, and be
ready to sacrifice our earthly interests and customs
and ambitions in favor of the heavenly.
Thus we may
redeem or buy back the time that we had previously
spent for worldly things, that we may henceforth
spend such time in the interest of ourselves and others
of the new creation and in the service of our Lord and
Master, to whom we have consecrated our all, which
we find to be so little over and above the things necessary
to provide honestly for the life that now is. Z'08-185 R4190:2 (Hymn 210)