I love sunrises and sunsets. I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful than a sunrise in all its glory or a sunset in all its splendor. The fact that our Lord has given us another day of abundant life on our way to eternal life is a special gift.
My friend, Paul Clark, Jr., loved the hymn, “For the Beauty of the Earth.” I love it too. “For the beauty of the earth; For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth, over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.”
Paul had the ability to fully appreciate and wisely appropriate each day for the glory of the Lord. We all need to develop that ability to “raise our hymn of grateful praise.”
But I’m a planner. I like a plan that envisions the next five-to-10 years. However, sometimes I look so far ahead I miss the moment. I’m too busy counting my tomorrows and forget Jesus reminds us not to count on even one tomorrow. He tells us to enjoy today; relish the moment. Your long awaited tomorrow will be here before you know it. Don’t rush it.
Randy C. Davis
Ever heard this before? “The days are long, but the years are fast.” That is an oft-quoted admonition to parents of young children. Job put it like this: “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.” I’ve never seen a weaver’s shuttle, but it sounds pretty fast. Sounds like life.
The Apostle Paul also reminds us how quickly time can get away from us. “Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
The collective point is this: Make this day count for the King!
Yesterday with all its failures, or all its successes, is gone. No need to fret over what happened or didn’t happen. And as hard as some try, it is impossible to live in the past. Tomorrow, with all of its possibilities and problems is no guarantee.
All you have is today, so today:
(1) Forgive the person you know who needs it and free yourself from the bitter root of unforgiveness.
(2) Have a long talk with the Lord.
(3) Hug your mate and kids a little tighter.
(4) Enjoy a gut-busting laugh.
(5) Share your Jesus story with someone.
(6) Be a generous giver to Great Commission work.
(7) Confess a long buried sin to the Father and let His grace wash over you.
(8) Be an encourager and possibly save a life.
(9) Enjoy God’s sunrise, and then His sunset.
(10) You get the picture, so smell the roses.
C.T. Studd, a British missionary, writer, generous giver and captain of the Eton College cricket team, said, “Only one life. It will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” He lived his own advice.
“Teach us to number our days so that we might gain a heart of wisdom,” Psalm 90:12 reads. The sweet singer of Zion said that a wise heart understands the brevity of life and the richness of a single day. It is not a matter of “spending a day,” is a matter of investing this day in that which matters most.
So, what are you going to do today that matters for the Lord?
It truly is a joy to be on this journey with you.
