October 23, 2011 (Job 13-14; Acts 17-18 )
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “You (God) have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.” Job 14:5 NLT
Observation: Job recognizes that God is in control. He accepts that God makes all the final decisions and no one can do anything about it. Humanity is frail, life is short and generally full of trouble, yet Job finds hope in God. Job desperately wants to know what sin he has committed; he longs to know what he’s done wrong. He boldly wants to take his case before God himself, even if it means death for him. Job understood that it was God who decided when the day of death would come for him, but he didn’t understand why God would allow him to suffer so much. He thought himself to be such a frail creature, why would God even concern Himself so much.
Application: God sets the birth date and the death date for all living things. Those two dates have already been decided long ago. As humans we tend to focus a lot on these two dates, yet not so much on the dash in between them. The day we were born was determined and decided by God, and the day we depart is ordered by Him as well. No sickness or disease can take us a moment sooner and no calamity or disaster can claim us before the date He has ordered. Yet no doctor or medicine can prevent that date from being fulfilled. When it’s our time to go, we are as good as gone. Knowing and understanding this, we should focus more on the dash between the dates, than the beginning and ending dates themselves. The most important part of our lives will not be the beginning or the end, but rather the dash in between.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your mercy and grace that provide and protect me every day. Thank You for the beginning of my life and the end that You have already determined. Help me focus on the dash between those dates more than the dates themselves. You have decided the length of my life already; I thank You for what time You have given. Give me wisdom to know what’s right and the courage to do what’s right, even when it’s hard, in Jesus name, Amen!