By Pastor Doug Stauffer
“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)
The month of August: Summer is winding down, school is about to start, and routines are shifting from relaxed to more structured. Before the busyness takes over, this is a perfect moment to pause and reflect on how you’re spending your time—and how you can make the most of it.
The Bible reminds us in Ephesians that we are to redeem the time because the days are evil. This phrase expresses a sense of urgency. The Apostle Paul wrote to believers living in a world filled with distractions, temptations, and danger. One wonders if today’s distractions are not multiplied even more. The culture around us pulls us constantly toward apathy, entertainment, and self-indulgence. But God calls us to something higher—He calls us to what I call intentional living.
Redeeming the time means more than staying busy; it means living with a sense of divine purpose. It means seizing every opportunity to glorify God, serve others, and deepen our faith. Summer may have brought moments of rest, travel or family time, but we must ask: Have we used that time to draw nearer to the Lord, or has another opportunity slipped through our fingers?
August provides a natural opportunity to refocus and recalibrate. As families prepare for the new school year, why not strengthen your spiritual focus? Just as children get ready to go back to class, so should each of us get our hearts ready for a new season of ministry and discipleship. The world will try to push in—but we need to press on spiritually.
For parents, this is a critical time. The world is working overtime to disciple your children; so, we must be even more diligent to teach them God’s truth.
“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7).
God commands us to use everyday moments as opportunities to disciple. Teaching children the truth of God’s Word isn’t limited to Sunday mornings—it’s to be a way of life.
As believers, we must also recognize the times. From rising immorality to growing confusion, we do not live in spiritually neutral days. The enemy is active—but so is our Saviour. That’s why our time is important. Redeeming the time isn’t just about managing our schedules; it’s about aligning our lives with God’s eternal purpose. It’s about living with holy urgency.
As you look toward fall, don’t just count the days—make the days matter. Reevaluate your priorities. Recommit to personal prayer and Bible reading. Reengage with your local church. Reconnect with those who need Christ. Time is a gift—but it’s also a test. What we do with it shows who we are becoming.
Let August be a turning point—not just in the calendar, but in our hearts.
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (Romans 13:11)
Wake up!
