Life comes in small bite-sized chunks of time called days. The truth is, though, we often obsess over even smaller pieces of time called seconds and minutes. Jesus said we’re to focus on one day at a time. Our minds wander to far-off places as we imagine how we’ll face the problems of that day. Still…life is daily. Painfully daily. God only allows us this day to “live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) So what do I make of this day?2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." Here’s the harsh and ugly reality of life: we’re wasting away. We suffer from the wasting disease of sin and decay. We suffer the effects of Newtonian physics and the second law of thermodynamics. Everything is going from a higher state of being to a lower state of being. When my teenager cleans her room—wait, that has never happened yet—oh well, when and if it ever happens, let’s say we sealed it off and no one entered that room for six months. Upon reentry we would discover that the room, even though clean six months ago, is in a lower state, with dust covering the once clean desktop. That’s the reality of entropy. Paul writes that even though we’re outwardly wasting away, we’re being inwardly renewed day by day.
The only truly renewable energy source in the world is “Christ in me, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27) Each day as I meet with Him to set my heart and mind upon Him, He restores my soul, renews my mind and prepares me to live supernaturally in this day.
It’s with the long chain of such days linked together that a life is built secure. Let me challenge you to meet with Him day by day, so that you don’t lose heart in the Christian life. I believe that establishing this discipline in an earlier day of my life helped me profoundly when one tragic day came into my life. I awoke that morning as clueless as a puppy. I had no way of knowing the heartache in store for me. The next morning was a very different experience. Then there was the next day and the next. Having a daily time with God does not remove the sharpness of life’s pain. It does, however, keep you from losing heart. Proverbs says my heart is the wellspring of my life. It’s where God blesses me and refreshes me day by day. Keep the refreshing waters flowing and keep them uncontaminated, and they will refresh you and renew you day by day.
Life is daily.
Ed Litton
6 comments:
you are not alone.
Greetings from italy
Marius.
Thank you. I meant to tell you at the restaurant Teaspoons yesterday. I saw you at your table, but I didn't want to disturb you. Your messages give hope to those who are hurting or needing just a breath of fresh air. Thank you. I know this touches many including myself.
I have thought of you and prayed for you often these past few weeks. You are often in my thoughts and prayers. Zanie & I love you dearly and lift you to the Master often. We wish we could see you all more often. We are making plans to be at the SB Convention next June to hear your message and the choir! Blessings to you and your family daily.
Darrell & Zanie
Good word today........Discipline.
My once teenage daughter...now 23 still lives in a war zone in her room! What did we do wrong? HA! I keep hoping.........
My grandmother was the first one to tell me that time heals all wounds. That is true. But sometimes we can get so focused on the ugly scars left behind that we neglect to see the renewal of skin.
I will continue to pray for you and your children.
Thank you Pastor Ed. Being a legalistic by nature I tend to rely on my daily schedules and routines to insure that my day, minutes, seconds are "used" to the best. Even after the Lord brings conviction to trust in Him alone, I still quickly find ways to solve my "problems" by getting more organized. Of late God has bestowed me with grace to begin to experience His wonderful gift of freedom through seeking Him and Him alone. It was sobering to read in Galatians 5 "You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness." I have been learning to truly apply Col. 3:2-4 "Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." When I fix my eyes on Jesus each moment of life that I am given reveals more of God's glory and a hope for days ahead when we that are in Christ will be complete.
Praying for your days and thankful for the Shepherd that you are to God's flock.
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