“When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the Lord.”
– Proverbs 19:3

Unfortunately, we often resemble this proverb!!! Too often, our unbridled energy and enthusiasm, or our restlessness and dissatisfaction, or our selfishness and sin lead us down a path to failure and disaster. We ignore the teachings of Scripture and the warnings of our friends. We race ahead of reason and planning. We ignore the warning signs along the way and foolishness turns to disaster. Then, instead of being embarrassed, our first reaction is what? To get angry, particularly with God!

So often, when we mess up, our first response is to get mad and lash out. We blame our friends and associates. We blame God for things going badly. We wonder where God is. We beg and plead for Him to bail us out. We grow indignant at having to endure the logical consequences for our own foolish decisions.

Getting out of the ruin we foolishly bring upon ourselves begins with taking responsibility. We must admit to ourselves and to God that we were foolish (which we hate doing). We must accept that we’ve brought ourselves into that situation (which we hate doing). We must desire to genuinely change, not simply have our circumstances changed. Only then are we actually ready to pray honestly, repentantly, and wisely. Then we can be confident that despite our foolishness, God loves us, God hears us, and God welcomes our repentance. Then we can be confident that if we are followers of Jesus, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)

“So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
– Psalm 90:12

As Christians, we often celebrate that we are eternal. In Christ, our days really are numberless. However, we’re also called to understand that the number of days we have before we enter glory are limited. Awareness of our own mortality is essential for developing and living true wisdom.

Biblical wisdom is far more than interesting fortune-cookie sayings or generic life advice. Biblical wisdom is about skillful living under God’s authority. A key element of that is understanding that we will die and that certain things can’t or won’t be done after we do.

First and foremost is choosing to believe in Jesus and be saved. All who die will become quite aware of Jesus, but salvation can only be accepted prior to death. Faith in Christ is the most important decision anyone can make and the awareness of mortality is often part of softening a heart toward the Gospel.

Once we’ve chosen Jesus, awareness of our own mortality makes us wiser and more effective disciples. Knowing our days are numbered should spur us to action as we accept Christ’s invitation to take up our cross daily. It should create urgency to share Christ with others, because we won’t be able to do that once we’re with Him forever.

As we recognize the briefness of our mortal life and the length of eternity, we should be encouraged to live lives of boldness for Jesus, knowing that the worst things we may suffer for Him pale in comparison to the glorious weight of eternity. Proper awareness of our own mortality lets us live as Paul did, keenly aware that to live is Christ and to die is gain. Recognize your own mortality and be wiser for it!

“That I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.” – Romans 15:31-32

Paul asked the Romans to pray for him and listed these specific prayer requests. It’s well worth noting that God answered these prayers, but did so in a manner Paul couldn’t possibly have been expecting! Nonetheless, God knew best…

Paul’s mission to deliver relief funds to the poor Christians in Jerusalem was well received but resulted in a riot and his arrest. Paul was delivered safely from the unbelievers in Judea – by the Roman soldiers who arrested him! Paul eventually came to the Roman Christians with joy, but did so in chains after years in jail and a disastrous sea journey. Paul was indeed refreshed in their company, but it was while spending years under house arrest in Rome.

None of that could have been Paul’s preference or expectation, but it was God’s will and plan and it was good. By answering Paul’s prayers in such unexpected ways, Paul was able to preach the gospel to soldiers and sailors, centurions and praetorians, governors and high officials. God’s plan was infinitely greater than anything Paul could have dreamed up! Rather than becoming frustrated, fearful, resentful, angry, and impatient, Paul trusted in God and faithfully proclaimed Jesus every step of the way.

God may well have very different plans for your life than you’d prefer. That’s good! Take heart from Paul’s example and keep praying, keep trusting, and keep sharing Jesus with all those God puts in your path!

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” – Romans 13:12

These are strange and difficult times in which we live, but they won’t last forever. As Christians, we must live in such a way that we’re always prepared to serve Christ and welcome His return. We must live lives that reveal Christ, proclaim Christ, and imitate Christ.

As Christians, this is no time to flirt with, toy with, ignore, or embrace sins in our own lives. We’re commanded to cast off, throw off, and utterly reject any and every work of darkness in our lives. There are no “small” sins that “don’t hurt anyone”. None. Those concepts are NOT biblical. Sin is sin. Every sin we practice is a work of darkness that hinders our relationship and growth in Christ while undermining our ability to serve Christ and live prepared.

Now is the time to battle that dirty habit that doesn’t please God. Now is the time to fight that addiction to _________. Now is the time to go to war against the anger the erupts, the gossip that oozes out, the greed or materialism that poisons joy, or the dishonesty that lingers at the margins of life. Now is the time to crucify the works of darkness that keep you from shining brightly for Christ!

Now is the time to put on the armor of light. To embrace a reconciled gospel life. To dig deeply into the Word of God and live in step with the Holy Spirit. To live out life-changing faith and pursue the righteousness that belongs to all who trust in Jesus. Now is the time for every follower of Jesus to reject all darkness and embrace all light!

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” – Romans 12:1

The “therefore” early in this verse is an extraordinarily weighty word. “Therefore”, because of everything Paul wrote in previous 11 chapters…. “Therefore”, because of the extraordinary depths and depravity of our sin, the awful price of every sin, the wondrous grace of God, the reconciling work of Christ on the cross, and the marvelous will, majesty, and goodness of God…

Therefore, there’s only one appropriate response for us as beneficiaries of God’s grace, mercy, patience, love, and faithfulness: total, sacrificial commitment to God. Because of everything God has done, is doing, and will do for us in Jesus Christ, Paul begs us to commit every aspect of our lives to God. He appeals to us – by reason, emotion, evidence, and theology – to pursue lives of holiness. Yes, we’re already holy in Christ, but now we’re called and compelled by God’s presence within us to actually live in a way that reflects who we are in Christ.

We’re called to total commitment to God. Whereas a traditional sacrifice quickly gives its life over to death, we’re called in Christ to give every aspect of our life to the Lordship of Christ on an ongoing basis. We’re called to do so voluntarily as an act of reverent worship.

In many ways, it’s much, much harder to be a living sacrifice. Traditional sacrifices only yielded their life once and had no choice in the matter. We’re called to voluntarily yield every part of our lives every moment of every day. While we’re certainly happy to give some parts of life over to God, in Christ, we’re called to yield every part: work, play, marriage, family, public, private, financial, physical, mental, emotional….

Will you do what it takes to present yourself to God as a living sacrifice? What parts of your life hold you back from a life of ongoing spiritual worship?