Daily Encouragement | A scripture-based, 60-second, challenge toward fidelity in living-out the call to Christian discipleship! | Page 1061

Leave a comment

Uncategorized

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, KJV 2000)

It isn’t just cartons of milk that bear an expiration date. We, too, have a fixed number of days.

It is foolish to live — especially in the face of daily evidence to the contrary — as if we shall never die. Failing either to number our days — or to act as if our days are numbered — means that we are not truly ready to live, because we are not yet ready to die.

Consider the proverb: “A wise man gives what he cannot keep; to gain what he cannot lose.” Redeem the time. – Luther

Tagged redeeming the time, the book of Psalms, wisdom

Leave a comment

Uncategorized

“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” (Proverbs 16:25, NLT)

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

How many times have we heard (or even spoken) those words?

Maybe we didn’t know any better. Or, maybe we knew the possible consequences of the short-cut we had chosen, but proceeded anyway thinking that no one would notice — or care.

Proverbs tells us that some decisions — even apparent “sure-fire” decisions — lead to death. Death comes to childhood dreams because of adolescent indiscretions. Death overtakes the prospects of a bright career because of poor choices during the young worker’s “salad days.” One dies spiritually when he or she trades a season of prosperity for an eternity of poverty.

There, however, is wisdom on this path: Obedience to God’s word leads to life. – Luther

Tagged choices, life, obedience, the book of Proverbs

Leave a comment

Uncategorized

“When Peter saw him (John), he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’” (John 21:21-22, NIV)

As disciples of Jesus, we each have an assignment to execute in God’s plan.

It is humanly natural to compare, to contrast, and to compete — but such characteristics have no place in the fellowship of God’s people. We who belong to God must, instead, strive to cooperate, to collaborate, and to cheer-on all others working with God — even if we don’t comprehend what it is they have been assigned by our common Lord.

If we don’t see it, what is that to us? We do see Jesus, and it is Jesus we must follow.

Anything more is a diversion, and anything less is a distraction. Stay focused. – Luther

Tagged focus, obedience, Peter, the book of John