ODJ: time well spent
March 30, 2011
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves (v.7).
READ: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Her name is Mary Jane. Having married a steelworker, she’s seen the boom and death of a Pennsylvania steel town where they happily raised their children. When the town no longer held any promise for them, they moved to Florida to enjoy their latter years. Today, though, she misses her husband even though he’s been gone a while (she’s uncertain of exactly how long). As she sits gracefully in her wingback chair, Mary Jane understands why she now lives in an assisted living center. It’s because her memory has started to fail her.
Life is incredibly fragile. The apostle Paul reminds us of the great contrast that exists between the everlasting, transforming power of the gospel and our frail, finite humanity. Trials will come, with some seeming as if they will last forever while others appear merely as a blip on the radar of life. But this truth remains: We have but one life to expend for Jesus before we die (Job 14:5; James 4:14).
In the busyness of life, our priorities can seem to be so appropriate and necessary. So much so, with our to-do lists close to our eyes, we lose perspective—unable to see anything beyond the blurry ink on the page, much less the white of the paper in our hand.
For the believer, though, living a full life goes far beyond any “bucket list” of new hobbies or dream vacations. Knowing we were made for eternity (Ecclesiastes 3:11; 2 Corinthians 4:18) should shape our present days so that our lives are not only transformed (2 Corinthians 4:16-17; Romans 12:2), but transformational (vv.11-15).
Our purpose is not to live successful, happy lives. We need “to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Then our lives can truly be a means for others to learn about Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:13-15).
—Regina Franklin
Is your to-do list made up of things you want to accomplish or things the Lord has called you to do? How can we discern the difference?
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We live in extremely busy times; our lives are cluttered with so much schedules and deadlines to meet plua all the distractions from electronic gadgets
(not counting the influemce of online social networking). It can be really difficult to keep in view what really matters – a purposeful life. We need to be constantly reminded that in our fleeting existence on this side of eternity, a life lived by God’s purpose is one that should be pursued. May the Lord help to keep a proper perspective and not be lost in the busyness of our time.