Another Look at Sunday’s Scripture

On Sunday, we reflected on Paul’s invitation in Ephesians 5 to “be filled with the Spirit.” We discovered that joyful worship isn’t something we manufacture, it flows naturally from hearts that know they are deeply loved by God.

But there’s another phrase in this same passage that deserves our attention.

Before Paul ever tells us to “be filled with the Spirit,” he writes:

“Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15–16)

Or, as another translation puts it, “redeeming the time.”

One of the things I enjoy most about The Andy Griffith Show is the pace.

People linger on front porches.

Andy rarely seems rushed.

Neighbors stop to have conversations.

Of course, Mayberry wasn’t a perfect place. But I sometimes wonder if my affection for Mayberry has less to do with nostalgia than with longing. Perhaps we recognize a rhythm of life we’ve largely lost as a culture.

Paul certainly knew what it meant to live in a hurried world. His ministry was demanding, his travels exhausting, and his days uncertain. Yet he doesn’t tell Christians to cram more into every hour. The phrase “redeeming the time” isn’t about squeezing more productivity out of your schedule.

It’s about recognizing that every moment is an opportunity to live wisely.

The Greek word Paul uses literally means “to buy back” or “to make the most of an opportunity.”

Do you notice the difference?

Paul isn’t asking, “How busy are you?”

He’s asking, “Are you paying attention?”

Those are very different questions.

Sometimes the most faithful thing we do all day isn’t crossing another item off our to-do list.Sometimes it’s noticing the person God placed right in front of us.

Jesus lived this way.

Read through the Gospels and you’ll discover that some of His most meaningful encounters happened because He allowed Himself to be interrupted.

A blind man cried out.

A woman reached for His cloak.

Children gathered around Him.

A tax collector climbed a tree.

Most of us would have called those interruptions.

Jesus called them ministry.

Perhaps that’s why Paul places “redeeming the time” immediately before “be filled with the Spirit.”

People who are filled with the Spirit begin to notice what hurried people often miss.

A conversation.

A lonely neighbor.

A child asking a question.

An opportunity to encourage someone.

A quiet moment when God is inviting us simply to be still.

Maybe that’s one of the quiet lessons hidden inside Ephesians 5.

The Spirit doesn’t merely help us worship on Sunday.

The Spirit teaches us how to notice God on Tuesday morning.

And perhaps that’s why The Andy Griffith Show still feels refreshing all these years later. Not because we want to go back to the 1960s, but because something inside us longs for a slower, more attentive way of living, a life where people matter more than schedules and interruptions become opportunities for grace.

This week, as you return to Ephesians 5, don’t just ask yourself whether you’re making the most of your time.

Ask a different question:

Where might God be inviting me to notice Him today?

You may discover that redeeming the time isn’t about getting more done.

It’s about becoming more present, to God, to others, and to the holy opportunities hidden within an ordinary day.