Living your life right now!

 

By Gary Andrews

gary@gadevotionals.com

 

     The only time we have on earth is the time we have at this moment. We are not promised a future even though we may have plans for one. How are we going to use the time we have?

     We are told in Psalm 39:5, “Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before you; Certainly, every man at his best state is but vapor.”

     I saw a clip in Facebook not long ago talking about our limited time on earth. It is a great analogy of our time on earth through an example of sand in an hourglass. We have the hourglass with sand in the bottom bulb, which represents our past. Too many of us spend time living in the past remembering why we had done this or wishing we had done that. There is nothing we can do in our past. It is gone.

     Yes, we can learn from it and amend our actions to help in the present and future. In the bulb in the top of the hourglass, which represents our future, may have a lot of sand in it or it may have little or none in it. This is something we do not know and are not promised. The only piece of the hourglass example is the small stem between the two bulbs.

     This is our present and the time we are living now. How is our present-day living? Are we living as God wants us to? For those of us that know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, are we the Christian example that He wants us to be?

     Our life and speech radiate to a lot of people around us. Our family and friends are affected by our actions, and we reach out to so many people that we do not realize that are watching us.

     We are not going to be the perfect Christian every minute of every day. I only know of one person that walked this earth and lived the perfect life and that was Jesus Christ. He was tempted just as we are, but He remained faithful to our Heavenly Father. Even though we sin, we can talk with our Heavenly Father and ask for forgiveness for our sinful nature. 

     We should be prepared to meet our Savior at any time of our life. In this cruel and sinful world that we live in, life is not easy. Being the Christian example can certainly be difficult at times; however we need to remember that Jesus is our only hope of eternal life, and He needs to be the one first and foremost in our daily living.

     Just as the representation of the hourglass example, our life on earth is short and uncertain. How is your life at this moment? Are you living for Jesus or are you living as the world leads you?

     Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the life you have given me on this earth. I pray that I am the example to others that you want me to be. Amen.

   (Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – James 4:13-17; Monday – Proverbs 27:1; Tuesday – Ephesians 5:13-26; Wednesday – Psalm 78:39; Thursday – Hebrews 9:27-28; Friday – 2 Samuel 14:14; Saturday – 1 Peter 1:22-25.) A608-22

 

  

 Are you setting a good example?

 

By Gary Andrews

gary@gadevotionals.com

 

     Being a good example is something that is demanded from each one of us. At least, this is what we should try to do.

     Our everyday life is a picture of our emotional, spiritual, and physical being. Are you displaying a life that you are not ashamed for anyone to see?

     There is a saying that says, “Take care of your character and your reputation will take care of itself.”

     The truth in this is phenomenal. How well we develop our character will determine how others are going to see us. If we base our character on a relationship with Jesus Christ, then others can see a godly person that will succeed in right vs. wrong.

     The world tells us that it is okay to lie and cheat if it doesn’t hurt anyone. The world tells us it is okay to take advantage of our family, friends, and neighbors if we feel we are justified in doing so. Many on this earth will lay up earthly treasures because of deceit and stepping on other individuals to win these treasures.

     All of us need to realize the treasures we lay up on earth will be gone the minute God calls us home. How well our spiritual treasures are, will be what we take with us into eternity.

     Character of any person will shine through our actions, speech, and love toward others while we are on earth. If we have a godly attitude and character then our deeds will be noticed not only by everyone around us, but by God, our heavenly Father. We need to realize what we leave to those that come behind us should be great morals, a healthy attitude, a sense of direction toward an eternal destination, and brotherly love.

     1 Timothy 4:8 tells us, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

     What do you want to leave for those that follow you? Is your character one that people would admire?

     Prayer: Holy Father, thank you for my time on earth. I pray that I can be the example you want me to be and not the one the world has for me. Amen.

     (Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Luke 11:37-44; Monday - Ephesians 5:1-2; Tuesday - Genesis 6:9; Wednesday - 1 Corinthians 15:33-34; Thursday - Jeremiah 13:26; Friday - Proverbs 26:24-26; Saturday - Romans 12:17.) A108-10