Teach us to number our days ...

 

"The years of our life are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty;yet their span is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away...

So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:10-12

"Time flies doesn't it!"

"Is it February already?"

"Not be long till Christmas!"

I'm sure you've heard adults in your life say these things a lot. It's certainly true that the older you get the quicker time seems to go! Even for young people, I'm sure that in September, exams seemed a long way off. Now you might be feeling the pressure begin to mount. Unfortunately  it will not be long until you're right in the middle of them, and then it's the summer!

It's only 153 days until Bibleway Camp 2019!

Even though time doesn't go any quicker or slower, it does keep on going. 

And one day our time on earth will be over.

Every day is a gift

Each day is a gift from God and each day is an opportunity.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 90, that we can hope to live for 70 or even 80 years.

Obviously, none of us can guarantee that we will live till tomorrow, let alone another 50 years.

And as Christians we should live expecting the return of the Lord Jesus at anytime(more on the rapture in another blog).

However let's imagine you will live until you are 80! 

That's 29,200 days!
Seems a lot doesn't it?

What do you fill your days with?

Well take away at least 10,000 days just for sleep.

Then minus the days you have already lived.

And you're left with an approximate of your time left on this earth.

The Psalmist encourages us to number our days- to think about the time we have on earth.

Why does he do that?

He wants us to realise our life on this earth is fleeting;  that the days are "soon gone". 

Your first priority in life should be to make sure you have salvation though faith in Christ alone. Your next priority should be to treat every day in this life as an opportunity to live for our Lord Jesus.

Judgement seat of Christ...

One day every Christian will stand before the Lord Jesus as our judge. (2 Corinthians 5:9-11)
 He will reward us for the things we have done for him; from giving someone a glass of water to leading an evangelistic campaign. Everything we do will be assessed; and everything done for Christ will be rewarded. 

Paul writing to the Ephesians says they should be "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."(Ephesians 5:16) 
Put simply Paul encourages us to make each day count. We only have this life to live for Christ. Paul himself began his life as a Christian with the words "Lord, what will you have me to do?"(Acts 9) and from that day on his life was marked by this attitude.

This is a question we should begin each day with.
Don't waste a day.
Don't waste your life. 

Only one life 'twill soon be past.Only what's done for Christ will last.

Charles Studd

THE BROKEN IMAGE

Every house has one of me or more. 

Schools have me and so does every building or work place. 

I always tell the truth and I turn everything around without moving.

I am the easiest way to double your money.

You probably used me this morning when you washed your face and checked your outfit. 

If you haven’t already guessed, 

I am a mirror.

Genesis ch1 v 26-27 says, God made man in his own image. 

We were made to reflect God on this earth for his glory and pleasure. 

God is righteous (without sin). He is love, light and life. 

However, man failed to live up to God’s perfect standard and so sin entered this world. 

‘Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.’ Romans 5 v 12. 

The image was broken.

Even though we are a broken image of God, the image is still there. 

God made us with a conscience to know right from wrong, to understand that we are sinners and need to get right with Him. God has given us the Bible, which acts like a mirror. Exodus 20 lists the Ten Commandments which show us how we look through God’s eyes.

Ask yourself these questions: 

Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever taken anything that doesn’t belong to you? Are you always obedient to your parents? 

The Ten Commandments show us our sin, just as a mirror shows us the dirt on our faces. 

One day, each one of us will stand before God, the Holy judge, and we will be found guilty.

But, God did something to save us from hell. He sent Jesus to pay our fine in His life’s blood by dying on the cross. Jesus then rose again and defeated death. 

If you repent of your sin and trust in Jesus to save you, God will let you walk free and give you eternal life. 

Have you repented and trusted the Saviour? There’s no other way to escape hell.

‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ Romans 6 v 3

Love,

Will.