December 21, 2003 Communion Dedication - Baldwin
Christian Church
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are
without, redeeming the time.
"Walk" (present tense, active voice, imperative mood)
in wisdom toward them that are without. This is Paul's way of
saying, "People on the outside of the church (those who are without
Jesus in their lives); they should be attracted to,
impressed with, and convicted by the lives that we lead as
Christians. Walking in wisdom means that you don't even have to
say a word, and when scrutinizing your life, even the hardest of
hearts will get a good impression of Jesus. Only God gives us
this wisdom. If it comes from us, or anywhere else for that
matter, it just doesn't work. I go back to the wonderful prayer
that we should always be saying for each other, (Col 1:9 For this
cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray
for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge
of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;) "Knowledge,"
in the original text of this verse, is "epignosis." If
"the knowledge of (God's) will in all wisdom" were
something we that could learn on our own, the word would have
simply been, "gnosis." False teaching concerning the
source of wisdom was creeping into that little church at Colossae,
and Paul reminded them (and us) of the true Source of all wisdom
in verses 1-4 of chapter 2,
1. For I would (I wish) that ye knew what great conflict
(agone) I have for you, and for them at Laodicea (just
a few miles down the road), and for as many as have not seen
my face in the flesh;
2. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in
love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the acknowledgement (the epignosis) of the mystery of
God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (that's
ALL wisdom, nowhere else is it found)
4. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing
words.
How many times during the course of a day do I rely on my own
understanding? It says, "lest any man beguile you," and
that includes the times when I "beguile," deceive or
delude myself.
Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his
mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing
wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that
he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
With your faith anchored to the Rock, ask for this wisdom to be
made manifest in you...
James 3:17-18. ...the wisdom that is from above
is first pure (clean, true, purified from all carnality),
then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated (easily
obeying, compliant, ready to serve), full of mercy (coupled
with desire to offer good will and kindness toward those who are
suffering) and good fruits (following through with mercy),
without partiality (without wrangling, dubiousness, ambiguity
or uncertainty - CAN DO!), and without hypocrisy. And the
fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that
make peace. (And this is how we redeem the time!)
Colossians 4, verses five and six are a reminder as to our
purpose for the time we've been given. Somehow we beguile
ourselves into the "gnosis" that we're going to live a
long time, that there will be a "tomorrow."
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For
what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a
little time, and then vanisheth away. (it's just a puff of
steam)
Every breath is a gift from God, and our actions may be the only
gospel some folks will ever hear. Everything we do, at any time (even
the things we don't realize we're doing) can be helpful or
harmful to someone's hope in salvation. Redeem the time! Waiting
in the checkout line, at a stoplight, at a gas pump, that's
enough time to talk with God. We mark the time, we spend time, we
waste time, and we kill time, but only when we walk in God's
wisdom can we actually redeem (or buy back) the time. Praying
while standing in line to spend money is a good analogy, because
to "redeem the time" means to buy it all out, to
purchase it completely. Spare time is hard to come by, it's truly
precious, but it's made much more so when we redeem it with
prayer, or by sowing the seeds of the gospel. When, in the course
of your busy day an interruption comes your way, remember that it
might be an opportunity to serve, and seize upon it, because it
may never happen again. None of us know for sure when we'll run
out of tomorrows, so let us never suffer the things that seem so
urgent to us take us away from the things that are truly
important. There is one who loves to steal our time, to cause our
minds to wander, to hinder our relationship with God, and we tend
to forget what Jesus told us concerning that old serpent...
Luke 10:19 Behold,
I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and
over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means
hurt you.
Jesus gives us this authority if we'll only use it. Jesus knows
what we're up against. Jesus knew all about the limitations of
time. He began teaching at age thirty, and ended at thirty-three.
All those people pressing in on Him, wanting to be healed,
wanting to hear His teaching. The whole world was after Him, but
the gospels bear record that He found times to slip away and pray,
to be alone with the Father. It was important to Him, and it was
important enough that it was included in His letter to you. He
wants us to (Matt. 5:16) "Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Our
behavior, whether in good times or bad, whether we know people
are watching us or not, it can be the beacon that illuminates
Jesus. With His wisdom, we can buy back the time that the thief
and robber have taken. With His wisdom, the "epignosis"
that He reveals to us through His Word, every given situation or
moment in time we can redeem to His glory. After all, when we've
let loose our last breath on this earth, the One who gave each of
us our allotment of days will be waiting for our report, our
accounting of what we did with this precious time.
Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor,
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute,
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.
Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly (cautious,
prudent, or discreet), not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise,
but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Proverbs 11:2. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with
the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs 23:23. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also
wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
(Moses) Psalm 90:12. So teach us (Lord) to number our days, that
we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.