April Twenty-Third
Today’s One Year Bible Reading…
Judges 1:1-2:9 * Luke 21:29-22:13
Psalm 90:1-91:16 * Proverbs 13:24-25
"Teach us to realize the brevity of life so that we may grow in wisdom."
Psalm 90:12
Can you believe you’re how old you already are? I know I can’t! Even if some days feel long, we look back and realize how quickly life is truly passing by. Daily rhythm seems to carry on as usual and it can sometimes feel as though we’ll have forever here on earth to say all we want to say to our families, friends, community, and co-workers, but that’s just not our true reality. The psalmist’s prayer here reminds us to live each day as though it could be our last, and wisdom is to have the desired conversations and actions today, knowing that we’re not guaranteed tomorrow.
"Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty."
(Psalm 90:10)
Are we making the most of everyday, choosing to live today depositing treasure into heaven through love, witnessing, forgiveness, kindness, and intentionality. Have we realized the brevity of our days and taken time to fill our hearts and minds with God’s lasting Words, as well as the hearts and minds of those around us?
"Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will never disappear…Watch out! Don't let your hearts be dulled... Keep alert at all times and pray that you might be strong
(Luke 21:33, 34, 35)
God warns us to stay alert, and it's time in His Word and prayer that keeps us awake and victorious. On our own, we tend toward apathy, laziness, defeat, and defiance, but God has given us all we need to be more than conquerors in Christ. We just need to look to Him with eyes awake and filled with faith. Realizing the brevity of our days fills us with all the wisdom we need to pursue victory within our lands.
"The LORD answered Judah, for I have given them victory over the land…But they failed to drive out the people living in the plains, who had iron chariots."
(Judges 1:2, 19)
It’s heart breaking to read of their failed victory, and maybe it hits a little too close to home in our own lives as well. God had given the nation of Israel all they needed to conquer the land and live in freedom, yet something held them back from fighting the full fight of faith. Maybe it was fear, laziness, or just the failure to realize how short their time was. Maybe they thought they would take the time to conquer the land next week; next month; next year. Whatever their reasoning, they had a lack of understanding as far as God's power and a forgetfulness that they worshipped the God who flicked the wheels off the Egyptian’s iron chariots! The truth wasn’t that they could not, it was that they would not, and unfortunately their lack of faith effected generations for years to come. God longs to see discipline and obedience in our own lives even as He calls us to cultivate it within the hearts of our kids.
"Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them."
(Proverbs 13:24)
God chastens those whom He loves and calls us to chasten our children as well! Wisdom reminds us that we don’t have too many days given to shape their hearts and mold their minds. May we be diligent to pour our time, effort, and energy into keeping our own feet and the little feet that follow on the narrow path headed toward the kingdom of God.
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty."
Psalm 91:1
What stood out to you from today’s Bible reading?