Three Things

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
James 4:14 NLT

Most of us go about our day as if we have all the time in the world. We'll do this later - we'll get around to that eventually. There's no sense of urgency or of time being short. We make plans for the tomorrows of our life as though we have an unlimited number of them. 

We do not.

There was a horrific crash on the freeway this morning - the two vehicles engulfed in flames so fierce the hood melted shut. One driver died in the flames. One miraculously survived. I can guarantee neither of them had planned to die on their way to work this morning. 

What's my point? Actually, I have several. One - don't put off getting into a right relationship with God. Do it now (see yesterday's post for how to do that).  Two - if you have a relationship with family that is strained or estranged, do what you can to Resolve the issue(s), to Reconcile, and Restore it to the right standing. Three - life is too precious and too fleeting to snap at others on your way out the door. What if the last thing you say to someone you love is something you never get to apologize for? I can't help thinking about the person who died this morning. I hope they were sent off on their day with a kiss and a kind word for both their sakes.

Resolve. Reconcile. Restore. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive.  

Prayer:

Father, 

           We want to walk in love and forgiveness as Jesus did. Help us, O God! Give us clean hands and pure hearts and help us to walk according to Your Word in Galatians 5:22-23, in the fruit of the Spirit - with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness. and self-control. Let us live our lives according to Ephesians 4:2, to Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. And as admonished in Philippians 4:5 to let our gentleness be evident to all.  We humbly ask all this in Jesus' Name. Amen

The Three R's

Then Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters in the presence of the Lord our God.
1st Kings 8:65 NLT

I came across a verse in 1st Kings 6:7, that reads, The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site.  While thinking about the significance of that, I also read our text for today, in chapter 8, verse 65. I don’t remember ever hearing about the Festival of Shelters. But they celebrated it at the end of the dedication of the Temple... the one they built with no sound of tools at the site.

The Festival of Shelters is an ancient Hebrew festival that calls us to remember, resist and rejoice. We remember that we are all homeless wanderers in a land that is not our own. We resist the powers of pride and greed that create wealth for a few and poverty for many. And we rejoice that God has given us a harvest that provides more than enough for an abundant life. 

The Festival commemorates God’s instructions to Moses and the Hebrews: “You shall live in shelters seven days: all citizens of the land shall live in shelters…” (Leviticus 23:42). The Festival calls all of God’s people, especially those who live in good houses and celebrate plentiful harvests, to not forget the God who rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt and who fully provided for His people in the wilderness, despite their rebellion. 

As we remember where we’ve come from, let us resist the temptation to be self-seeking and self-serving, and rejoice that God – in His infinite mercy – has made a way for us where there was no way. 

Prayer:

Father,
           Just as we applied ourselves to learn The Three R’s at school, let us more so abide by these: Remembering Your goodness toward us, resisting pride and self-sufficiency, and rejoicing that You go before us and make the crooked way straight, loving us and teaching us to be true followers of You. Help us to successfully finish the race You have called us to run. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen