Thought for the day
The court jester was overcome with grief. His world was at an end! For a long time he had served the Caliph at Baghdad and his court, keeping them amused whenever they called upon him. But in a moment of thoughtlessness he had displeased his ruler who had ordered that he be put to death.
"However," said the Caliph, "in consideration of the merry jests you've told me all these years, I will let you choose how you are to die."
"O most generous Caliph," replied the jester, "if it's all the same to you, I choose death by old age!"
I suppose, if given a choice, that's the choice all of us would make. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), though, that choice is not ours to make. We know (all too well) the fragile nature of life. And perhaps it is for the best. If we were guaranteed 90 years on this earth, we would be mighty tempted to wait until the last year or so to get serious about God (just like putting off those term papers in college!).
With a realization of the uncertainty of life, we recognize the need to be prepared at all times.
"LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor." (Psa. 39:4-5).
May you be prepared for the joys that await when this life is over!
Verses
Romans 8:37
And yet in all these things we keep on gloriously conquering through Him who loved us.
Deuteronomy 7:15
And the LORD will take away from you all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict upon you, but he will lay them upon all who hate you.
Isaiah 57:19
I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate. Complete prosperity is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby," says the LORD, "and I will heal them.
Colossians 4:2
Always maintain the habit of prayer: be both alert and thankful as you pray.
Psalm 1:1-3
Happy is the man who does not take the wicked for his guide nor walk the road that sinners tread nor take his seat among the scornful; the law of the LORD is his delight, the law his meditation night and day. He is like a tree planted beside a watercourse, which yields its fruit in season and its leaf never withers: in all that he does he prospers.
Prayer
Father, since the church is a living organism it brings about many changes, both positive and negative, from day to day, year to year. The account of the Israelites proves there’s a continual moving story as they respond, often unfavorably, to the various challenging circumstances in their wanderings in the desert and later in Canaan. We think of the leaders, some very strong in their faith, and others who weakened during times of temptation and testing. Father God, thank you raising up the Aarons and Hurs in our churches who hold up the feeble arms of our pastors during times of spiritual battle. Help us to walk together heart to heart and hand in hand. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment