Living For What Lasts
Scripture to Ponder:
Psalm 103
I have a love for Oreos. I go all in and get the Mega stuffed. The saying ‘less is more' does not apply to dessert. If I'm going to splurge, go ahead and give me all the calories stuffed in the center of that chocolate cookie. Throw in a glass of milk and you have a recipe for pure bliss. Excuse me while I take a break to wipe the crumbs from my keyboard.
My family knows the Mega stuffed oreos are moms. They all complain that the mega stuffed are too much, yet they still devour them in record time, and the worst part is they leave the empty container setting on the shelf. Let me tell you about dissapointment. I experience it deeply every time I lift that too light container and realize my kids are animals. Three weeks in a row a pack of oreos was purchased at the grocery store and three weeks in a row when I went to get an oreo the container was empty before I even got ONE! Teenage boys are bottomless pits with endless hunger. Don't judge - the next grocery run included 2 packs of Oreos and, yes, I hid one. No more Oreos dissappearing for this mom. I need them to last at least through a week of sporadic cravings.
Just as my Oreos dissappear so quickly (even when I'm eating them), our lives pass quickly. Nothing can change the reality that at some point our time on this earth comes to an end, but while we're here we have the opportunity to decide what we will live for. Will our lives leave an impact for eternity? How do we live for something that lasts?
Quiet your heart before you begin:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed.
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will be keep his anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.
Take time to read through this passage a few times. Let your heart ponder and meditate on the living word and what the Father wants to speak to your heart.
How do we live for something that last? Worship. When we worship we focus on Christ himself and recognize the benefits of abiding in him. David beautifully reminds his own heart to worship Christ and remember his benefits. When we are not worshipping, we have forgotten the good thing. We are prone to forget. Our human nature quickly forgets the good, yet easily remembers the bad. Verse 14 reminds us that he knows our frame; he knows we are dust. Even David, a man after God's own heart, needed to remind his own soul to worship and remember his benefits. We must be intentional and deliberate in our remembering. Sister, let this be a reminder to worship. Let this scripture remind our very soul who Christ is.
Scroll back up and read the Psalm once more. Pondering on who Christ is.
He is the one who forgives your sins, heals your diseases, redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with love and mercy, and satisfies you with good things. O my soul, Bless the Lord! He alone is worthy of our highest praise and deepest devotion. His love for you, high as the heaven is above the earth. Your sin infinitely separated. No matter how far you run to the east or the west you will never reach the other. His grace extends that far; farther than your sin. When we worship him our focus is taken off the temporary and fixed towards the only thing that lasts: Jesus.
Our lives will pass but God's mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. May we live for what lasts. May we live a life of worship and continually remind ourselves of his benefits. May we live in such a way that what we leave behind is a reflection of God's love; a reflection of what lasts. May we live intentionally; sharing the love that sustains us.
Questions to Ponder:
1) What does this passage reveal to me about the heart of God?
2) Am I living daily towards what is eternal?
3) When my focus is on the things of this life, do I remind my soul to worship?
