Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Numbering our Days”

Psalm 90:12

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

One of the most profound things that Moses said was this exact verse – that the Lord would teach us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. But what does that mean to us?

Many of us live as though we were immortal. As a group of relatively young people, we rarely think of death; but the truth is, our lives will pass in the blink of an eye. We are but a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14).  With that in mind, we are encouraged to seek the things that are eternal, rather than storing up temporal treasures that are bound to fade away.

Whether it’s having a lot of wealth, or being a person that makes important decisions, we all have a desire to leave a lasting legacy. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – God has created us to be a people of purpose and of vision. We want our life to have meaning and will do what it takes to establish a legacy that will be remembered. It is our natural state. We cannot avoid it.  But what I’ve learned that has rung more and more true each day is this: If we try to etch our name into history, I can guarantee you that it will fade. It might last a while, but eventually, it will all fade away.

But if we decide to participate in God’s redemptive history, it is an eternal legacy that cannot and will not be shaken. Imagine etching your name in the sand. It might be there for a while. Some names are washed away immediately, while others might last a while longer, but eventually, all are washed away. But if you carve your name into a rock, then it will last forever. Jesus is that rock of our salvation that lasts forever.

Jim Elliot summed it up with the following quote: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  So spend yourself in this lifetime. Give yourself to kingdom matters, ushering in the eternal Kingdom of God. Live as if eternity really mattered. May the Lord give us all a growing heart of wisdom, that we would see clearly that our days on earth are numbered, and with that in mind, seek after the eternal, living our lives in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me even when I make bad decisions and turn away from You.  Thank You for restoring me time and time again. Hear my cries for help and restore me. I confess to You my failures and that I am in need of you.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 15-16