“REDEEMING OPPORTUNITIES”

C. G. Hitchcock

Ephesians 5: 15, 16; Colossians 4: 5, 6

Our brother has referred in his word to the character of the days in which we live as respects what marks the world. He has referred to the spirit of the age, lawlessness and anarchy—revolution too, he might have said—but we must remember that whilst the Father is extending in His infinite long-suffering and mercy this day of grace. He is supporting government (although we may not

always just discern the character of that support, because there is much confusion), so that while there are the elements around of which our brother has spoken, and certainly in that respect the days are evil, yet God is in control, and He exercises that control through the delegated powers that belong to this present world kingdom (still the Roman, marked by feet of partly iron and partly clay, which do not mingle; on the one hand there is a measure at least, and sometimes, as we have had good reason in the mercy of God lately to observe in the Government of the country in which we live, there has been firmness which we could hardly have expected to be present five or ten years ago, and that is a great mercy of God) and God has in mind that the saints should make use of the conditions which are advantageous in many respects to “walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time”.

Now the reason given is “because the days are evil”, that is, I take it, that there is support divinely given to those who want to make good use of the time that we live in. Now I know that this that I am speaking of does not apply to all countries, but it does apply very largely to what we speak of as the western world, and we may say in general Christendom; though there be decline and the giving up of divine principles, yet God is still maintaining a testimony and we are to take advantage and be exercised not to descend to thoughts and words and deeds which are fundamentally unwise, but that we should walk carefully, “not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time”, taking every opportunity to make good use of the time that is available to us.

Now the second scripture says, “Walk in wisdom towards those without, redeeming opportunities. Let your word be always with grace, seasoned with salt”; that is to say, what we say is to have a preservative character in view of God’s attitude of grace at the present time and the righteousness of God. We are not to adopt standards that are current in the world, but we are to be alert in our communications to what are divine standards. And then it is supposed that there may be enquiry, “So as to know how ye ought to answer each one”. That is, we take account of the person to whom we may be speaking, or it may be writing, and we seek wisdom, if any enquiry has been made, as to the manner or way in which we should answer each one.

Now it may be that we all are much occupied with the circle in which we have the privilege to move and we may fall into a somewhat unthoughtful way in dealing with persons who are not in that circle. We do not do it with any bad motive but we are apt, I think, speaking for oneself, to be somewhat indifferent to the effect of our manner and of our speaking on anyone with whom we have to do who is not in the Christian circle as we know it. We do distinguish, generally, those whom we can see are genuine Christians, and I have no doubt it is in the mind of each brother and sister to encourage and to serve such, but God’s attitude is towards all men and it may be that we could be more careful as to the impression we leave on persons whom we may speak of as persons just in the world.

Now that is an exercise of my own, and therefore I feel it may be shared by us all, because there is the evangelical spirit among us and I think the Lord would support us in every contact we have with those who are without, as the scripture says, so that at every opportunity we may be concerned that there may be some impression left of a gracious attitude, and an impression left that we enjoy that which is not known in the world; and I think that if these impressions are left they may (we know not

when) affect the mind and heart of the person with whom the occasion has given rise to have some dealing—‘What is it that these people have? What is it that this man, or this woman, has that I have not got?’ I think it is a question largely of wisdom, and God gives wisdom to those who ask. The Father is ever ready to give wisdom and we know what a place it has in the book of Proverbs. “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9: 10) so that I think we shall be helped as we seek to use every opportunity to leave with others an impression of the grace of God and of His concern for men and women and children that they might come within the range of the sphere in which there is the knowledge of divine Persons and the power and service of the Holy Spirit.

Word in meeting for ministry, London
16 September 1980