|
You're Not Getting Any Younger PREVIEW: Time flies, and one day before you and I know it, we will go the way of all the earth. And when that day comes, what will those who have been under our influence say about us? What will they say about the thumbprint we have left on their lives? What kind of legacy are we creating by the way we live in the present? Sobering, isn’t it? May we treat Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90:12 with utmost seriousness, “Lord, teach us to number our days aright so we might live them wisely?” 
A Journey of Worship // Psalm 144:10
Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.
David’s words are so true—and sobering, aren’t they? Time flies, life is fleeting, and before you know it, those who were once so alive and vibrant are now ambling toward the twilight of their lives. For good or bad, the finish line is not that far off. And, on occasion, the saying, “here today, gone tomorrow” forcefully intrudes into your world with an unmistakable wakeup call that this is not only true of the people you know and love, but also of you as well.
Many years ago, I had the privilege of spending time with two men who have served as my spiritual mentors. They were both great leaders in their day, and their influence in my life had been nothing less than defining. In their prime, they were unequaled in visionary, courageous, innovative, and skillful leadership. They did for the Kingdom of God what not many others have done. These men were spiritual giants—God’s generals. But the day came when they finished their earthly race.
At the time, seeing them was a bittersweet experience for me. I was sad because the reality was that they were not what they once were. Yet I was glad by the reward that most certainly awaited them for running strong and finishing well the race that God had set before them. Looking back on the ups and downs, the victories and defeats, the sorrows and joys of their long and illustrious careers, King David’s words at the end of this psalm, Psalm 144:15, aptly summed up their lives:
Blessed are the people of whom this is true;
blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.
These were men of God, and they were blessed. And I am blessed to have their thumbprints all over my life, even to this day.
But time flies, and one day, before I know it, I will be where they are. And when that day comes, what will those who have been under my influence say about me? And what about you? What will they say about the thumbprint you have left on their lives? What kind of legacy are you creating by the way you live in the present? Sobering, isn’t it?
May we treat Moses prayer in Psalm 90 with utmost seriousness,
Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. O Lord, teach us to number our days aright so that we might live them wisely! (Psalm 90:10-12)
Yes, Lord, teach us to number our days aright so we might live them wisely.
My Offering of Worship: Since you and I are not getting any younger, let’s take some time this week to project forward to the day of our demise. Think of what we desire those we leave behind to say of our spiritual legacy on that day. Then, obviously, let’s start living today in such a way that what we want them to say about us will be true.
  Related Stories
With God’s Help, We Cannot Make It PREVIEW: King David knew his sin problem was very deep—and incredibly troubling. And it wasn’t his problem alone. He knew that humanity was fundamentally flawed because of a sinful nature (“Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you” Psalm 143:2) and that no matter how much we try, we will ultimately steer off the cliff and into personal sin. And from David’s personal experience, he knew that would probably happen early and often. So, he makes his plea for help from above. If sin were to be overcome, it would take a little help from God. Actually, a lot of help. So will we! 
A Journey of Worship // Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
David was aware of his inability to live a righteous life before God. That’s not to say he didn’t try or that he dismissed his failures with an, “Oh well, it’s just the way I am. I just can’t help myself.”
David knew the problem was much deeper than that—and much more troubling. And it wasn’t his problem alone. He knew that humanity was fundamentally flawed because of a sinful nature (“Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you” Psalm 143:2) and that no matter how much we try, we will ultimately steer off the cliff into personal sin. And from David’s personal experience, he knew that would probably happen early and often. So, the Sweet Singer of Israel makes his plea for help from above. If sin were to be overcome, it would take a little help from God. Actually, a lot of help:
It would require God’s active mercy: “Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. (Psalm 143:1)
It would require the daily renewal of God’s loving guidance: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (Psalm 143:8)
It would require God’s constant shepherding to keep David walking in his will and on the straight and narrow path: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. “(Psalm 143:10, cf. Psalm 23: 1-4)
Living a godly life is not the easiest road to travel. Our lives are out of alignment because of the sinful nature that got passed down to us from Adam, and by nature, we will continue to drift toward the devil’s ditch. The journey will require a constant effort on our part to overcorrect just to keep on the “narrow way” (Matthew 7:13-14). Most of all, it will take daily dependence on God—day-by-day, perhaps moment-by-moment, coming to him and getting a little help from above.
To live the kind of life God has called us to live, we will need to exercise the same kind of temerity as the kid who wrote this prayer to God: “Jesus, I feel very near to you. I feel like you are beside me all the time. Please be with me this Thursday. I am running in a three-mile race then, and I will need all the speed in the world then. So, if you’re not busy, could you be with me at the starting line, the finish line, and everywhere in between?”
Yeah, that’s what we need: A little help at the start, the finish, and all the way in between!
My Offering of Worship: If sin is to be overcome in our lives, it will take a little help from God. Actually, a lot of help: It would require God’s active mercy, his daily guidance, and his constant shepherding. So, like King David, let’s offer our plea to God for his help.
Related Stories
Core Curriculum in the Classroom of Spirituality Maturity PREVIEW: David had a cave. But so did the other greats in the Bible: Joseph had a prison; Moses had the desert; Jeremiah had a pit; Daniel had a den; Paul was in and out of jail so many times, like Motel Six, they “kept the light on for him.” Even Jesus had a wilderness. Oh, he got a cave, too. He once spent three days in one. If Jesus had “cave-time,” the cave won’t be optional for you. Every believer gets “the cave.” What is the cave? The cave is a place of death. It’s where you die to yourself. The cave is the place of testing; it’s the blast furnace for moral fiber. The cave is where your mettle gets tested, your maturity gets revealed, and your heart gets exposed! Put a person in the cave of distress, discouragement, or doubt, and true character will show up. And if you’re brave enough to open up to the truth about you, the cave will reveal just how much work God still must do to get you ready for great things. 
A Journey of Worship // Psalm 142:1
A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer: I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.
We all prefer to live out in the sunshine of God’s grace, but from time to time we get the “cave” instead. “Cave time” is just a core curriculum in the classroom of spirituality maturity. Call it whatever you want: the pit, the prison, the desert, the wilderness—the cave is basic training for believers.
Joseph had a prison; Moses had the desert; Jeremiah had a pit, Daniel had a den, Paul was in and out of jail so many times, like Motel Six, they “kept the light on for him.” Even Jesus had a wilderness. Oh, he got a cave, too. He once spent three days in one. If Jesus had “cave-time,” the cave won’t be optional for you. Every believer gets “the cave.”
What is the cave? The cave is a place of death. It’s where you die to yourself. The cave is the place of testing; it’s the blast furnace for moral fiber. The cave is where your mettle gets tested, your maturity gets revealed, and your heart gets exposed! Put a person in the cave of distress, discouragement, or doubt, and true character will show up. And if you’re brave enough to open up to the truth about you, the cave will reveal just how much work God still must do to get you ready for great things.
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (Deut 8:2)
Likewise, the cave is the place of separation. Not only does God reveal the true you in the cave, but he also strips you of every misplaced dependency. In the cave, God separated David from everything he had once depended on, and all that was left for David was God himself.
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deut 8:3)
The cave was perhaps the most frustrating period in David’s life—but in hindsight, it turned out to be the most fruitful. That’s because the cave is also the place of forging. The cave is where God breaks you down to build you up:
Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. (Deut 8:4-5)
That’s what God does in the cave. And God does some of his best work in caves. It was there in the cave of Adullam that David wrote three of his most moving psalms—Psalms 34, 57 & 142, including our key verse: “I cry aloud to the Lord…I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.”
If you are in a cave and complaining to everyone else but God, you are missing a great opportunity to pour out your heart to the only one who can do something about it. Good things always happen when you get honest with God. So, try talking to him—and be patient; God does great work in caves.
If you doubt that, just remember that empty cave on the outskirts of Jerusalem. For three days, it held a crucified body. But on Easter Sunday, the crucified Jesus rose as Lord and Savior for all humankind.
God does great work in caves—the best of which is resurrection. Perhaps that will change your mind about caves.
My Offering of Worship: Are you in the cave? Pour your heart out to God! Then wait patiently for a resurrection into something better and more eternal: The image of Christ now stamped upon you.
Related Stories
Zip It PREVIEW: Our words matter! They can either kill or they can give life. What we say can not only destroy others, but it can also destroy us. That is why David asked the Lord to set a guard over his mouth. He knew that only God’s help would enable him to gain mouth mastery. And that help would begin with a changed and cleansed heart. So, what does your mouth reveal about your heart? If we were to play back a tape recording of every conversation you’ve had this week, what would we learn about you? That you have a bitter, angry, hurtful, doubtful heart, or that your heart is faithful, hopeful, and loving? Perhaps like me, you need to ask God to clean up both your heart and your mouth. And if we get God’s help, there isn’t anything we can’t do…even zipping our lips! 
A Journey of Worship // Psalm 141:3-5
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies. Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.
One researcher has found that the average American has 30 conversations a day and will spend one-fifth of their life talking. Over the course of a year, our conversations could fill sixty-six books at 800 pages each.
So, how come, with so much practice speaking, few of us have ever gained complete or even consistent mastery of the content of our communication?
Think about it: Just a few inflammatory words set off a chain of events that look like World War III in your life. You come home from work tired and cranky, and yell at your wife…she yells at the oldest kid…he yells at little sister…she goes out and kicks the dog…the dog bites the cat…the cat comes in and scratches the baby…the baby rips the head off the Barbie doll.
Wouldn’t it be a whole lot simpler if the husband just ripped off the Barbie’s head himself?
Your words matter! Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that our words can either kill or they can give life. That means what you say can not only destroy others, but they can also destroy you. That is why David asked the Lord to set a guard over his mouth: “Help me, Lord, to keep my mouth shut and my lips sealed.” (Psalm 140:3) David realized he needed a zipper on his speech because of the damage it could cause others as well as himself. He knew how easy it was to be enticed into conversations with those who took no thought to the damage their conversations could inflict: “Take away my lust for evil things; don’t let me want to be with sinners, doing what they do, sharing their delicacies.” (Psalm 140:4) He knew just how easily it would be to unleash a destructive torrent of words that he couldn’t trust himself to keep his tongue in check. That is why he recognized the need for accountability partners: “Let the godly smite me! It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is medicine! Don’t let me refuse it.” (Psalm 140:5) David understood what Jesus said about our words: They reveal what is going on within us. that our words only reveal what is already inside our hearts:
You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. (Matthew 12:34)
That is why control of our mouths must begin with reforming our hearts.
So, what does your mouth reveal about your heart? If we were to play back a tape recording of every conversation you’ve had this week, what would we learn about you? That you have a bitter, angry, hurtful, doubtful heart, or that your heart is faithful, hopeful, and loving?
David knew he would need supernatural help if he were going to get both heart and mouth in the right place with God. That’s why he prayed for Divine help. You and I need to pray that, too, probably every day! We can’t do it alone. I know I can’t—I’m living proof of that. But I believe God will help us if we sincerely ask him. He never encourages us to do something that he is not willing to help with.
And if we get God’s help, there isn’t anything we can’t do…even zipping our lips!
My Offering of Worship: It is very likely that, like me, you do not consistently keep your speech disciplined. So, join me, and let’s do what David did: He reflected on the destructive of harmful words and hurtful conversations. He became accountable for what he said to people who were not afraid to confront him when he wasn’t. Most importantly, he pleaded with God for supernatural strength to use his every word in a way that honored God.
Related Stories
There is Coming a Day When He Will Hold Court PREVIEW: King David did what he could as the king to promote justice in his kingdom, but even he had his limits. And when he reached those limits, he would make his appeal to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Universe, God himself. That was the only way David could maintain his sanity as a leader in a sea of evildoers and their injustices. That is a good idea for you and me as well. We need to do what we can to uphold justice in our world, but there comes a time for sanity’s sake that we must turn all the evil and injustice over to the Chief Justice. One day soon, he will hold court, and then every evil intent and wicked act will be brought to light, judged, the sentence will be pronounced, then carried out. But, my friend, this calls for great perseverance and patience on our part. 
A Journey of Worship // Psalm 140:12
I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
King David was one of the most amazing leaders in human history. Flawed, certainly, but skilled, courageous, inspiring, visionary, and successful like few other leaders of men. Yet even David had his detractors. They were there from the beginning, when he first stepped onto the scene in Israel, to the end, when death after a full life concluded his chapter. At each step, there were enemies, haters, and pretenders nipping at the heels of David’s credibility and authority to lead.
Even in this Golden Age of Israel, there were evildoers who promoted wickedness and perpetuated injustice. But David knew that ultimately, God was the Great Discerner of human motives and would reveal the wicked intent of their hearts sooner or later. Though it may not seem like it at the moment, he was confident that God would come to the rescue of the poor and innocent, bringing about divine justice to all who were oppressed.
King David did what he could as the king to promote justice, but even he had his limits. And when David reached those limits, he would make his appeal to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Universe, God himself. That was the only way David could maintain his sanity as a leader in a sea of evildoers and their injustices.
That is a good idea for you and me as well. We need to do what we can to uphold justice in our world, but there comes a time for sanity’s sake that we must turn all the evil and injustice to the Chief Justice. One day soon, he will hold court, and then every evil intent and wicked act will be brought to light, judged, the sentence will be pronounced, and then carried out. This calls for great perseverance and patience on our part. James talks about this in his New Testament epistle,
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:7-9)
The next time you’re tempted to get discouraged about all the injustice that is beyond your scope of authority, either in the world at large or in your personal world, don’t grumble about it. Take it to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Universe and leave it with him.
My Offering of Worship: What is it in the evil world that is weighing you down? The plight of the poor, human trafficking of little kids, filth coming through the airways into the lives of your children, abortion, corruption, manipulation of the system that disadvantages the little guy will the powerful gain more power? Is there something that you can do to address it? If not, take it to God and pour out your discontent in prayer. Leave it with him and then practice patience.
Related Stories
|
|
