Numbering my days

So often I take my life for granted, and spend day after day in a spiritual oblivion. With exams looming around the corner, it's so easy to rush to school in the morning, start studying, stay in school till late, chat and laugh with friends, all without even thinking about God.

Then God sends something my way, a little problem or a kind friend, to remind me what life is about. Then I remember that our life is not our own to live. That's what jumped out at me when I read Psalm 90:12 today:

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

I want to live my life aware that my days are limited, so that I will use them wisely, that is, to glorify the one who saved me. And that is wisdom: using my life in accordance with God's will. I know that when I am living in God's will, I can never be afraid or unhappy. Although following Jesus can be difficult at times, and can demand giving up things of this earth, God promises us a greater, surpassing joy that comes from being filled by Him alone.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, 
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14

The Secret Things

Have you ever had questions about the Christian faith? I certainly do. 

"Why does a holy God allow sin to happen?"

"Why did God choose such a painful, roundabout way to secure our redemption through Jesus?" 

"How can God be "one in three persons"?" 

"What will the new heaven and earth be like?"

... and more, which is why I love Deuteronomy 29:29.

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

There are things about our faith that God keeps secret from us. But He has revealed enough to us, in His word, for us to have faith in Him. The things that He has revealed are ample for us to obey and follow Him. Nothing that we cannot ascertain from His word is crucial to us coming to faith in Jesus Christ and loving God. When we're full of questions, this is a great thing to remember.

The Point of Easter

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4

Jesus died that we, like Him, could die: we died to sin, such that sin no longer has control over us. And Jesus rose to life that we, like Him, could enjoy eternal life, forever reconciled with God. Jesus died for us and rose for us, that we may praise and glorify God with our lives.

I often reduce Easter to thoughts of a long weekend and colourful eggs. I know that I always forget the heart of Easter. I need to remind myself of the point of Easter each day of my life. How about you? 

When his soul makes an offering for guilt

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 53:10

On Good Friday, remember that Jesus' cruel death was not by chance. Every taunt and torment that Jesus suffered was part of God's good plan, in order that Jesus might be for us "an offering for guilt". Jesus became the perfect guilt offering, the perfect Passover lamb. The shedding of His blood stopped death once and for all. Everything God had done for his chosen people, the institution of the law and the commandments culminated in Jesus' death and resurrection.