Don't let work stress pull you down. TRUST IN THE WORKING ARTIST. GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET.

Your life may look unfinished to you, but it has never been outside the sight, knowledge, or sovereign care of God.

"That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’" 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

Christian, you are a work in progress. But being a work in progress does not mean you must work yourself into the ground trying to make everything happen. There is a difference between faithfully doing your part and anxiously trying to do God's part. You are responsible for obedience; God is responsible for the outcome. Your calling is to walk with Him, not to run ahead of Him.

Consider an artist standing before a blank canvas. He sees something that the rest of us cannot yet see. He picks up his brush and makes a few strokes. To an untrained eye, they may look disconnected, incomplete, or even meaningless. Someone might look at the canvas and ask, "What is that supposed to be?"

The artist, however, is not confused. He knows what he is creating. What appears unfinished to the observer is not unfinished in the artist's imagination. He has a vision of what he intends to accomplish, even when the canvas reveals very little of it.

There is something of a spiritual lesson in that picture.

We often examine our own lives as though we were standing before an unfinished canvas. We see the disappointments, the unanswered prayers, the unexpected detours, the closed doors, the years that seem to have slipped away, and the opportunities that never materialized. We compare where we are with where we thought we would be by now.

And sometimes, in our weariness, we begin to wonder:

"Lord, have You forgotten me?"

"Have I missed what You wanted me to do?"

"Is this all there is?"

"Has my opportunity to be useful to You passed?"

But feelings of abandonment are not proof of God's abandonment. A difficult chapter is not necessarily the conclusion of the story. An unexpected season is not evidence that God has lost control.

God has not promised that every chapter of your earthly life will unfold according to your expectations. He has promised that He will never forsake His own.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

You may not understand what God is doing, but you can know the character of the One who holds your future. He is not improvising because something caught Him by surprise. He is never confused by circumstances that confuse us. Nothing about your life is hidden from His sight.

We see a few brushstrokes. God sees the entire canvas.

We see the present moment. God knows the end from the beginning.

We see what has not happened. God knows what He has ordained, what He has permitted, and what He will accomplish according to His perfect wisdom.

That does not mean we can confidently claim to know every detail of God's individual plan for our lives. Nor does it mean every painful circumstance is itself good. Scripture teaches something much better: God is wise, sovereign, faithful, and able to work even through the things we would never have chosen.

God sees what you cannot yet see

Paul writes:

"That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’" 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

Paul is drawing from Isaiah 64:4. In its original context, Isaiah speaks of the incomparable God who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul explains that God's wisdom, once hidden, has been revealed through the Holy Spirit. The passage is not simply a promise that God has a wonderful earthly surprise waiting around every corner. It points us to the depths of God's wisdom and the salvation He has revealed through Christ.

Think about that.

Our understanding is limited. God's wisdom is not. We cannot see all that He sees, understand all that He knows, or anticipate everything He may accomplish. We are finite people trying to understand the purposes of an infinite God.

That is precisely why faith matters.

Faith does not require you to pretend that everything makes sense. It calls you to trust God when it doesn't.

You do not have to understand the entire painting to trust the Artist.

God is not finished with His work in you

Paul gives believers another wonderful reason for confidence:

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6 NLT

Notice where Paul's confidence rests. Not in human determination, personal ability, favorable circumstances, or an uninterrupted record of success. His confidence rests in God.

The Christian life is not a self-improvement project in which we somehow become our own saviors. Salvation begins with God's grace, continues through His gracious work in us, and will reach its completion when Christ returns.

You are not the author of your salvation. Jesus is.

You are not called to manufacture spiritual transformation through sheer effort. You are called to abide in Christ, walk in obedience, depend on the Holy Spirit, and grow in His grace.

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6 NKJV

That is a promise worth holding close when you feel unfinished.

Perhaps you are not where you hoped you would be. Perhaps some things have taken longer than you expected. Perhaps you have experienced disappointments that have left you wondering whether God can still use you.

But your present circumstances do not have the authority to cancel God's faithfulness.

Do not confuse an unfinished season with a wasted life. Do not confuse a closed door with the end of God's ability to lead you. And do not confuse being overlooked by people with being forgotten by God.

Your greatest purpose is not to become impressive in the eyes of others. It is to know Christ, become more like Him, and faithfully serve Him wherever He places you.

God can work through the pieces you cannot put together

Here is where the picture becomes even more beautiful.

Sometimes the strokes on our canvas seem completely unrelated. A disappointment here. A difficult relationship there. A season of waiting. An opportunity that disappeared. A job that became more difficult than expected. A ministry door that closed. A prayer that has not been answered in the way we hoped.

We look at these things and wonder how any good could possibly come from them.

But Scripture gives us this assurance:

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 NLT

Notice what this verse does and does not say.

It does not say that everything that happens to a believer is good. Sin is not good. Injustice is not good. Betrayal is not good. Suffering is not good simply because we experience it.

It says that God is able to work through all things for the ultimate good of those who love Him and belong to His purpose.

And what is that good?

The following verse tells us:

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son." Romans 8:29 NKJV

God's purpose is far greater than making our earthly circumstances comfortable. His purpose includes making us more like Jesus Christ.

Sometimes He changes our circumstances. Sometimes He changes us in the midst of them. Sometimes He opens a door we never anticipated. Sometimes He teaches us to remain faithful while the door remains closed.

We should never presume to know precisely why God allows a particular hardship. But we can trust that hardship is not beyond His ability to redeem and use for His purposes.

Joseph could not see the whole picture when his brothers betrayed him, when he was falsely accused, or when he was imprisoned. Yet, looking back, he could recognize God's providence.

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good." Genesis 50:20 NKJV

What a remarkable testimony!

Human beings intended evil. God did not call their evil good. He demonstrated that their evil intentions could not defeat His purposes.

That is the sovereignty of God. He is able to accomplish His purposes even when people make sinful choices and circumstances appear hopeless.

Trust the Artist when you cannot understand the canvas

So what do we do when life doesn't make sense?

We do what Scripture has always instructed God's people to do: trust Him.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 NKJV

This is not an invitation to abandon wisdom, ignore responsibilities, or stop making thoughtful decisions. It is a call to stop treating our limited understanding as the highest authority.

We pray. We seek biblical wisdom. We obey what God has already made clear. We take responsible steps. We seek godly counsel. We remain faithful in the responsibilities immediately before us.

And we leave the things we cannot control in God's hands.

There is a difference between waiting on God and doing nothing. Biblical waiting is active trust. It keeps obeying while the outcome remains uncertain.

"Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!" Psalm 27:14 NKJV

And remember, Christian, you do not have to exhaust yourself trying to prove your worth to God or other people. Your worth is not established by how much you accomplish, how many people recognize you, or how quickly your circumstances improve.

You belong to Christ, AND HE TOO IS WORKING.

Work diligently, but do not make work your master. Serve faithfully, but do not make recognition your reward. Pursue opportunities, but do not worship open doors. Be willing to move forward when God makes the next step clear, and be willing to wait when He has not.

As Jesus taught:

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." John 15:4 NKJV

The fruitfulness of your life comes from abiding in Christ, not from frantic striving apart from Him.

And here is a beautiful truth to carry into whatever season you find yourself:

The One who began His work in you is more faithful than you are capable of being. Your confidence rests not in your ability to finish the work, but in His faithfulness to complete what He has promised.

So take heart in Christ.

You may not see the finished picture. You may not understand today's circumstances. You may not know what tomorrow holds.

But you know the One who holds tomorrow.

Trust Him with the unfinished places. Give Him your disappointments, your ambitions, your unanswered questions, your work, your relationships, and your opportunities to serve. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep walking faithfully. Keep loving people. Keep doing the next right thing.

Don't mistake the unfinished canvas for a forgotten masterpiece. The Artist has not abandoned His work.

And when the day comes that we see Christ face to face, we will understand far more than we understand today. Until then, we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Where can you see evidence of God's gracious work in your life, even if the whole picture is not yet clear?

Perhaps it is in a character trait He has been developing, a temptation He has helped you resist, a forgiveness you have finally extended, a person He has allowed you to encourage, a lesson learned through hardship, or a renewed desire to know and serve Jesus.

Do not overlook the small evidences of His grace while waiting for the larger answers.

And perhaps ask yourself another question:

Am I faithfully cooperating with God's revealed Word today, or am I exhausting myself trying to control tomorrow?

The answer matters.

Because the goal is not merely to have a beautiful life by the world's standards. It is to have a life that increasingly reflects Jesus Christ.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30 NKJV

Fitting words from Christian voices

A few established Christian quotations reinforce these truths:

> "God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to make a mistake."— Charles Spurgeon, commonly attributed to him; exact original wording and source uncertain.

> "The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is."— C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

And one more biblical truth, perhaps the most important of all:

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

Trust the Artist. Stay close to Jesus. Be faithful with today's assignment. Let God be God.

Do you have some inordinate work stress? Do you have too much of that? Do you have the Lord working on or with you (read more)?

He never promised us a rose garden, and Scripture never promises that becoming a Christian means becoming exempt from work suffering. Too much stress can be very unhealthy. Please be cautious at work. 

Jesus is a worker, and He was unmistakably honest about the world in which His followers would work.

"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 KJV

Notice what Jesus did not say. He did not promise that His followers would never encounter hardship. He promised that they would not face this world without Him.

The apostles taught the same truth:

"We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22 KJV

Christianity is not a promise of a trouble-free journey. It is the promise of a faithful Savior who accompanies us through the journey.

BEWARE WHEN YOUR PERSONAL LIKES BECOME EVERYBODY'S RULES TO LIVE BY!

What do you like, dislike, and what do you do with those? 

Be discerning today. It's good to use your brain to carefully evaluate what's going on.

"...in non-essentials liberty; in all things, charity!"

BRO, WHEN YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCES BECOME EVERYBODY'S RULES, WATCH OUT.

Your personal comfort is not the final authority -- You and I just aren't. God is and His Scripture is.

A familiar tradition to you is not automatically a biblical command. Duh!

Something can be different from your own way without being disobedient to God. Duh!

Hold firmly to what God commands in His Bible. Walk humbly, prayerfully, circumspectly where the Lord leads you and gives liberty. We are to love Him most and Liberty for all people.

Before you gently, respectfully correct some Christian, or others who are open.. start with you, ask: Did God forbid it--or do I just dislike it?

Never hate people, even the corrupt people. Love and pray for your enemies.. those who have made themselves enemies of you and the truth. You can hate what they do wrong. Live above reproach, blameless. Receive one another without puffed up ego or any quarreling over disputable matters. This is a day of disputable matters, pulled to the real facts.

The Apostle Paul said, "Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself." Romans 14:1-7

 PERSONAL PREFERENCES BECOME EVERYBODY'S RULES

The difference between biblical conviction, Christian liberty, and spiritual pride

Be discerning. Think biblically. Examine everything in the light of God's Word. And be careful when your personal preferences begin to sound like commandments for everybody else.

One of the subtle dangers in Christian living is confusing what God has commanded with what we have personally come to prefer. It is possible to become so attached to our traditions, habits, convictions, and familiar ways of doing things that we begin treating them as though they carry the authority of Scripture.

But our preferences are not God's commandments. Our traditions are not automatically biblical principles. And our personal opinions do not become divine instructions simply because we hold them strongly.

Something can be different from your way without being disobedient to God. Something can make you uncomfortable without being sinful. And another believer can exercise a freedom you would personally choose not to exercise without necessarily dishonoring the Lord.

The Bible must be our authority, not our upbringing, personality, traditions, comfort, or personal taste.

This does not mean weakening biblical convictions to accommodate everybody. God's Word is not negotiable. Where Scripture speaks clearly, we must stand firmly. Where Scripture grants liberty, we must be careful not to impose restrictions God Himself has not imposed.

That is the balance of biblical discernment: conviction without arrogance, freedom without selfishness, and truth expressed through love.

1. Don't confuse your convictions with God's commandments.

Before correcting another believer, take a moment to examine your own heart.

Ask yourself:

• Does Scripture actually forbid this, or do I simply dislike it?
• Is this a biblical command, or a personal conviction?
• Am I defending God's truth, or protecting my own traditions?
• Am I helping someone grow in Christ, or demanding that everyone conform to my preferences?

These are important questions because religious pride can disguise itself as spiritual maturity.

A person can be very particular about outward appearances while neglecting the inward qualities God values most. Someone can be passionate about defending a tradition and surprisingly indifferent toward humility, patience, forgiveness, mercy, and love.

Jesus confronted precisely this vary problem when religious leaders elevated their traditions above God's commandments.

"For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men." Mark 7:8 NKJV

Think about that. It is possible to become so preoccupied with maintaining religious practices that we lose sight of the very Word we claim to defend.

A tradition may be meaningful, beneficial, and worth preserving. But it must never be elevated above Scripture.

Never give a human preference the authority that belongs exclusively to God's Word.

2. Romans 14: The biblical answer to disagreements over disputable matters.

One of the clearest passages addressing this problem is Romans 14.

The church in Rome included Jewish and Gentile believers who had different religious backgrounds and consciences. Although united in Christ, they disagreed about certain practices, particularly food and the observance of special days.

Some believers felt free to eat all foods. Others abstained from certain foods because of their consciences. Some regarded particular days as especially sacred, while others regarded every day alike.

Instead of extending grace, some began judging one another.

Those who understood their freedom looked down on those with stricter consciences. Those with stricter convictions condemned those who exercised greater freedom.

The disagreement exposed something deeper than differences of opinion: pride, judgmentalism, and a failure to love fellow believers.

Paul addressed the problem directly:

"Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things." Romans 14:1 NKJV

Notice Paul's instruction: receive one another.

He was not telling the church to abandon sound doctrine, tolerate immorality, or overlook false teaching. He was addressing matters in which Scripture allowed room for differing personal convictions.

The issue was not whether biblical truth mattered. The issue was whether believers had the humility to distinguish God's requirements from their own preferences.

What were these disputable matters?

Paul specifically discussed:

• Food: Some ate freely, while others abstained from certain foods (Romans 14:2–3).
• Special days: Some regarded particular days as sacred, while others regarded every day alike (Romans 14:5–6).
• Wine: Paul discussed voluntarily abstaining when its use might cause another believer to stumble (Romans 14:21).

These examples concerned matters of conscience, not permission to disregard God's moral commands.

The precise reasons behind every individual's convictions are not fully explained in the text. Jewish dietary practices and concerns about food associated with idolatry provide relevant historical background, but we should distinguish what Scripture explicitly says from what we reasonably infer.

The enduring lesson is clear:

God does not authorize us to turn every personal conviction into a universal requirement for His people.

3. Remember whose servant your fellow believer actually is.

Paul asks a question that should humble every Christian who is tempted to become judgmental:

"Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls." Romans 14:4 NKJV

Consider the significance of that statement.

Another Christian belongs to Jesus Christ. He or she is accountable to the Lord, not ultimately to your personal expectations.

You are not that person's master. You are not the final authority over another believer's conscience. And you have not been appointed to make everyone else a reflection of yourself.

Of course, Scripture commands us to exercise discernment, lovingly confront genuine sin, restore those who have fallen, and guard the church against false teaching.

Galatians 6:1 instructs spiritual believers to restore someone caught in sin with a spirit of gentleness, while watching themselves.

There is a difference between biblical correction and personal criticism.

Correction seeks restoration. Condemnation often seeks superiority.

Correction is governed by Scripture and love. Personal criticism can be governed by irritation, pride, jealousy, or a desire to control.

Before you correct someone, make certain you are addressing something God has actually addressed.

Jesus gave us a necessary warning:

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3 NKJV

We should be far more interested in examining our own hearts than finding something to criticize in everybody else's.

4. Christian liberty is not permission to sin, and personal preference is not biblical law.

There are three important categories Christians must learn to distinguish.

First: Biblical commands.

These are matters God has clearly addressed. We have no authority to rewrite them, disregard them, or accommodate sin because obedience becomes inconvenient.

Second: Biblical prohibitions.

Where God forbids something, Christian liberty cannot make it permissible. Calling disobedience freedom does not change its nature.

Third: Matters of Christian conscience and liberty.

These are areas in which Scripture does not establish a universal prohibition or requirement. Believers must exercise wisdom, conscience, and love.

This third category is where Romans 14 becomes especially important.

However, conscience is not infallible. A conscience can be weak, misinformed, or improperly shaped. It must continually be instructed by God's Word.

Paul develops this principle further in 1 Corinthians 8–10. He explains that although believers may possess freedom, love must govern how that freedom is exercised.

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful." 1 Corinthians 6:12 NKJV

Freedom is not an invitation to selfishness.

A mature Christian does not merely ask, "Can I do this?"

He also asks, "Is this even wise at all? Is it helpful? Does it honor Christ and the Bible? Could it unnecessarily harm someone else?"

The goal of Christian liberty is not to do everything we are permitted to do. It is to honor Christ in everything we choose to do.

5. Love people without approving of everything they do.

We must never confuse loving people with approving of their behavior.

God commands us to love people, including those whose actions are corrupt, dishonest, cruel, or deeply wrong.

But Christian love is never an excuse to call evil good.

Paul writes:

"Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Romans 12:9 NKJV

That is the balance.

We can hate corruption without hating the person committing it. We can oppose injustice without becoming unjust ourselves. We can confront dishonesty without becoming dishonest in our own conduct.

Jesus commands us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). That includes people who mistreat us, misrepresent us, oppose us, or disagree with us.

Love does not eliminate discernment. It governs how we exercise it.

Neither should we become so consumed with exposing everyone else's faults that we neglect the condition of our own hearts.

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice." Ephesians 4:31 NKJV

We are to live with integrity, humility, purity, and a clear conscience before God and people.

Being above reproach does not mean being sinless. It means conducting ourselves with integrity, refusing to make excuses for sin, and maintaining a life that does not bring legitimate reproach upon the Gospel.

Never allow someone else's wrongdoing to become an excuse for your own un-Christlike behavior.

6. The stronger believer must know when to lay down a freedom.

Paul takes the subject beyond simply allowing differences.

He teaches that Christian freedom must be exercised with consideration for others.

"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way." Romans 14:13 NKJV

Imagine a Christian who has no personal struggle with a particular activity. Another believer, however, associates that activity with a former sinful lifestyle and feels genuine temptation when exposed to it.

The mature believer should not pressure the other person to violate his conscience.

Paul teaches that love sometimes means voluntarily restricting something we are otherwise free to do.

This is not weakness. It is Christlike consideration.

However, there is another side to this teaching. A believer with a restrictive conscience must not automatically impose that restriction upon everyone else.

We should not pressure someone into violating conscience, but neither should we allow every personal objection to become a universal rule.

There is a difference between respecting another person's conscience and surrendering biblical liberty to another person's preferences.

Paul summarizes the principle:

"For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 NKJV

What a needed reminder!

The Christian life is about far more than winning arguments over secondary matters.

Our lives should reflect the character of Christ.

7. Christian unity is not uniformity.

One of the great misunderstandings in church life is the assumption that unity requires everyone to think alike about every detail.

It does not.

Biblical unity is not the absence of every difference. It is a shared commitment to Jesus Christ, His Gospel, His Word, and the love He commands.

John Wesley expressed this beautifully in his sermon Catholic Spirit:

"Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?"

That is a profound question for the modern church.

Wesley was not suggesting that truth is unimportant or that doctrine should be compromised. He was addressing differences of opinion and worship that need not destroy Christian affection.

He understood that believers can disagree in certain matters without becoming enemies.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in Life Together, likewise warned against loving an idealized picture of Christian community more than the actual people God has placed within it.

His observation is often rendered:

"The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community."

That is a searching thought.

Sometimes we love our expectations of people more than we love the people themselves. We want everyone to fit our preferences, meet our standards, share our opinions, and approach life exactly as we do.

But Christian fellowship requires something deeper.

It requires learning to love real people, with their differences, weaknesses, growing faith, and individual personalities, while continuing to hold one another accountable to Scripture.

John Wesley's question deserves to be repeated:

Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?

And Paul's instruction remains:

"With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2–3 NKJV

8. Do not let secondary disagreements distract you from the Great Commission.

There is something profoundly tragic about Christians spending more time criticizing one another than reaching people who desperately need Jesus.

Think about it.

People around us are struggling with guilt, broken relationships, addiction, hopelessness, spiritual confusion, and the consequences of sin. Many have never clearly understood the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yet Christians can become so occupied with debating secondary matters that they neglect their greater responsibility.

Jesus did not commission His church to make everyone adopt our personal preferences.

He commanded us to make disciples.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19 NKJV

The church must never sacrifice biblical truth for superficial harmony. But neither should it sacrifice love, fellowship, and its Gospel witness over matters God has left to Christian conscience.

Paul writes:

"Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another." Romans 14:19 NKJV

The word pursue is important.

Peace and spiritual encouragement require intentional effort. Sometimes that means listening instead of arguing, extending patience instead of criticism, and choosing to build someone up instead of proving a point.

We have enough genuine spiritual battles without manufacturing unnecessary ones among fellow believers.

Let us spend less time policing personal preferences and more time proclaiming the Gospel, making disciples, encouraging the hurting, restoring the fallen, and helping people follow Jesus.

9. Seven questions every Christian should ask before judging someone else.

Before criticizing, correcting, or confronting another believer, honestly examine your own heart.

1. Is this clearly addressed in Scripture? Am I defending a biblical command or merely my personal preference?

2. Am I confusing tradition with truth? Have I elevated something familiar to me into a requirement God never established?

3. Have I considered the whole counsel of God? Am I interpreting Scripture in its proper context rather than using isolated verses to support my opinion?

4. Is my motivation genuinely loving? Am I seeking restoration and spiritual growth, or am I trying to establish my superiority?

5. Am I willing to extend the same grace I want others to extend to me? Do I remember my own shortcomings?

6. Am I exercising my freedom responsibly? Could my conduct unnecessarily tempt or spiritually harm another believer?

7. Will my response build someone up or merely create another argument? Am I helping someone become more like Christ?

These questions are not an invitation to compromise biblical truth. They are an invitation to practice biblical truth with humility.

James reminds us:

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." James 1:19 NKJV

Sometimes the most spiritually mature thing we can do is listen carefully, examine ourselves, open God's Word, and refuse to turn a personal disagreement into a spiritual battle.

---

THE BOTTOM LINE: BE UNCOMPROMISING IN TRUTH AND GENEROUS IN GRACE.

Christian maturity requires knowing the difference between what God commands and what we personally prefer.

Stand firmly for the Gospel. Defend biblical truth. Reject sin. Exercise discernment. Never compromise the authority of Scripture simply to avoid disagreement.

But where God has granted liberty, do not become a lawgiver. Where believers differ in conscience, do not become their judge. Where correction is necessary, speak the truth with gentleness and love.

Do not confuse your preferences with God's principles, your traditions with His commandments, or your opinions with biblical truth.

You are called to follow Jesus, not to make everybody else a copy of yourself.

The goal is not to win every disagreement. It is to honor Christ in every circumstance.

The goal is not to control everyone else's conscience. It is to help one another grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ.

The goal is not unity at the expense of truth, nor truth wielded without love. It is a church firmly grounded in Scripture, characterized by holiness, humility, genuine love, and a shared commitment to the Gospel.

Jesus gave His disciples a distinguishing mark:

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35 NKJV

That is a testimony worth protecting.

Be firm where God is firm. Be gracious where God grants liberty. Be humble enough to examine yourself. And be loving enough to put another person's spiritual well-being ahead of your own preferences.

After all, we will never glorify the Lord by insisting that everyone do things our way. We glorify Him by faithfully doing things His way.

"Let all that you do be done with love." 1 Corinthians 16:14 NKJV

May our convictions be governed by Scripture, our attitudes shaped by Christ, our consciences informed by God's Word, and our relationships marked by the love of Jesus. Come as you you are, repent, believe.. willing to be changed by God. KnowGod.org

Integrity still matters. Honesty counts. Truth (not a mixture with some error) still helps a nation and its people. Repentance and free forgiveness is still possible for a while.

A person may choose to deceive other people for a while.. like in one election after another. Hey, God sees. 

They can manipulate circumstances a bit, conceal evidence, or escape earthly consequences sometimes, but no one can deceive the God who sees it all, He who is the Judge of all judges.

NO CHEATER WILL ESCAPE GOD'S ACCOUNTABILITY.

Live with integrity -- it matters. Walk in Truth and Love -- this still matters. Walk in the Spirit and in Victory over Sin. Real Repentance is still possible, Cheater.

You may fool people, manipulate a situation, or escape the consequences of dishonesty for a season. But you will never fool God.

Pray for the cheaters and deceivers. Jesus taught that we are to love our enemies in this way. He prayed for his enemies and those who killed him physically. 

It's okay to feel some pity for them. Many deceived people don't know they're deceived, It's like that for many of those who do the deceiving as well (ever watch Benny Shinn on TBN?). Those with their heads full of liberal ideas helped along by the Legacy media. Really don't know why the red state they moved to is becoming like the one that sunk. 

BFTGGGI - But for the grace of God going I.

Whether the deception happens in a marriage, a classroom, a business, a government office, or an election, dishonesty remains dishonesty. Changing the setting does not change God's standard. Cheating does not become acceptable because someone benefits from it, because others do it, or because the person believes he can get away with it.

God is not impressed by appearances, titles, popularity, political influence, wealth, or carefully managed reputations. He looks beyond the public performance and examines the heart.

"A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight." Proverbs 11:1 KJV

"Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight." Proverbs 12:22 KJV

What does God have to say about cheating.. anything? 

Sadly, many men and women cheat today. Stop that!

Why do people cheat? Sometimes it is greed. Sometimes ambition, insecurity, fear, pride, jealousy, or an unhealthy desire to win at any cost. Sometimes people convince themselves that the end justifies the means. Others simply want an advantage without earning it.

Whatever the motivation, the underlying problem is a heart willing to exchange what is right for what is advantageous.

An election, for example, should be decided by honest participation, truthful procedures, and lawful counting, not deception or manipulation. The same principle applies to every area of life. A dishonest victory is not an honorable victory. Getting ahead by doing wrong is not genuine success.

Proverbs 20:10, Micah 6:11, Leviticus 19:11, and 2 Corinthians 4:2 all address God's opposition to dishonest dealings, deception, and corrupt practices.

Integrity is doing what is right even when dishonesty would be easier, more profitable, or less likely to be discovered.

1. God sees what people conceal.

One of the most dangerous mistakes a person can make is assuming that whatever remains hidden from human observation is somehow beyond accountability.

It isn't.

People may conceal evidence, rewrite their personal history, shift blame, or persuade others to accept a false account. But God does not judge by appearances. He knows the truth completely.

Galatians 6:7–8 warns that God cannot be mocked and that people reap what they sow. Proverbs 10:9 teaches that the person who walks in integrity walks securely, whereas the one who takes crooked paths will eventually be exposed.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7 KJV

This is not a promise that every dishonest person will be exposed publicly during his lifetime. Some wrongdoing remains undiscovered by human authorities. Nor does every consequence arrive immediately. But no injustice escapes God's knowledge, and every person will ultimately answer to Him.

Hebrews 4:13 reminds us that nothing in creation is hidden from God's sight. Ecclesiastes 12:14 teaches that God will bring every work into judgment, including what is hidden.

That should sober us.

A reputation can be manufactured. Character cannot be manufactured before God.

2. Why integrity matters more than winning.

The world often celebrates the winner without asking how the victory was obtained. Scripture asks a much more important question: Was it right?

A person can gain money and lose his character. He can gain influence and forfeit trust. He can win an argument while losing a relationship. He can achieve an outward victory while suffering an inward defeat.

Proverbs 19:1 and Proverbs 28:6 teach that a person of limited means who walks honestly is better off than someone who possesses more but lives crookedly.

Luke 16:10–12 makes another important point: faithfulness in little things reveals whether someone can be trusted with greater responsibilities.

This applies to private life just as much as public leadership. The person who cheats on a small matter is not demonstrating a harmless shortcut. He is cultivating a disposition that can eventually affect much larger matters.

Proverbs 29:4 warns that bribery undermines the stability of a nation. Proverbs 28:20 cautions against hastening to become rich at the expense of faithfulness.

The question is not simply, "Did I get what I really wanted.. and for how long? Did I gain some pay for what I did wrong?" 

It is, "Did I honor God in the way I pursued it?"

3. All sin must be confessed, and not explained away.

Here is the encouraging part: If you have cheated, lied, deceived someone, manipulated a situation, or acted dishonestly in the past, your story does not have to end there.

You can still confess. You can repent. You can turn around.

The Bible does not teach that a person's past wrongdoing makes genuine repentance impossible. It teaches that we must stop concealing our sin and bring it honestly before God.

Consider Joseph. When tempted to commit adultery with Potiphar's wife, he recognized that the proposed wrongdoing was ultimately an offense against God.

"How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Genesis 39:9 KJV

David understood this after his terrible sins involving Bathsheba and Uriah. When confronted with his wrongdoing, he eventually acknowledged the seriousness of his offense before God.

"Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." Psalm 51:4 KJV

David was not claiming that Bathsheba and Uriah had suffered no harm. They certainly had. His point was that his sin was ultimately against the holy God whose commandments he had violated.

Sin is never merely a mistake in public relations. It is rebellion against God's righteous standard.

And God calls us to something better.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13 KJV

Notice those two important actions: confessing and forsaking.

Confession acknowledges the wrong. Repentance involves a change of mind and direction. Genuine repentance does not merely regret the embarrassment, the lost opportunity, or the possibility of being caught. It recognizes that the behavior itself was wrong before God.

First John 1:9 assures believers that God is faithful and just to forgive those who confess their sins. Forgiveness rests upon Christ's finished work, not our ability to repair every consequence of our wrongdoing.

4. Genuine repentance is willing to make things right.

Confessing sin to God is essential. But when our wrongdoing has injured another person, biblical repentance also takes seriously the harm we have caused.

Consider the Old Testament requirement in Leviticus 6:4–5. When someone committed certain forms of dishonesty, including theft or fraud, restitution was required. The offender was not simply to express regret and move on. He was to restore what had been wrongfully taken, with the prescribed additional compensation.

Then consider Zacchaeus.

He was a chief tax collector, a man whose profession and personal conduct had made him wealthy at the expense of others. But when Jesus entered his life, something changed.

Zacchaeus did not merely announce that he felt differently. He committed himself to concrete action.

"And if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Luke 19:8 KJV

Jesus responded by declaring that salvation had come to Zacchaeus's house (Luke 19:9).

His willingness to make restitution provided visible evidence of a changed heart.

This does not mean every repentant person must give away half his possessions or pay four times the amount involved. Zacchaeus's particular promise was his response. The broader biblical principle is that genuine repentance takes responsibility and seeks to repair harm where reasonably possible.

If someone cheated years ago and another person is still suffering because of it, the passage of time does not automatically erase the responsibility to address that harm.

If restitution is possible, pursue it. If an apology is appropriate, offer it. If a false account needs correcting, correct it. If someone was deprived of an opportunity through deception, consider what can honestly be done to address the injustice.

Repentance does not rewrite history. It changes the direction of the person who must now face it.

5. Confessing to God and confessing to people.

There is an important distinction between confessing sin to God and acknowledging wrongdoing to the people we have harmed.

God calls us to confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:9). We should not wait until someone discovers our wrongdoing or confronts us before becoming honest.

Whether we should also approach another person depends on the circumstances.

If the wrongdoing is recent, the person has been harmed, and a truthful confession can help bring accountability or reconciliation, approaching that person may be the right thing to do.

If the wrongdoing happened many years ago, the effects have completely passed, the person is no longer accessible, or an unexpected confession would create additional harm without serving a constructive purpose, wisdom is needed. Scripture does not give a universal instruction to disclose every past sin to every person who might have been indirectly affected.

But discomfort, embarrassment, or fear of losing one's reputation should not become convenient excuses for avoiding a necessary confession.

Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). He also taught us to treat others as we would want them to treat us (Luke 6:31).

That means we should care about the people our decisions affect, not simply about getting our own conscience off the hook.

6. Integrity in private life and public life.

God's standard of honesty does not change according to our circumstances.

It applies to marriage. It applies to business. It applies to money. It applies to elections. It applies to our words, promises, relationships, and responsibilities.

Marriage, for example, is not a private arrangement in which faithfulness matters only when someone might discover an affair.

Hebrews 13:4 calls believers to honor marriage and keep the marriage bed undefiled. Matthew 5:27–28 teaches that sexual sin begins in the heart, not merely in outward behavior. Proverbs 6:32 warns of the destructive consequences of adultery.

Likewise, a person who lies about money, manipulates an election, cheats in business, or misrepresents the truth is violating the same basic principle: God calls His people to honesty.

Other passages reinforce this standard:

• Proverbs 10:9 — Walk in integrity rather than crookedness.

• Proverbs 20:10 — God detests dishonest weights and measures.

• Proverbs 29:4 — Justice strengthens a nation; bribery undermines it.

• 2 Corinthians 4:2 — Reject deception and shameful practices.

• James 4:17 — Knowing the right thing and refusing to do it is sin.

• James 1:26 — Religious appearances mean little when the tongue is uncontrolled.

• Colossians 3:9 — Put away lying as part of putting off the old self.

• Ephesians 5:5 — Sexual immorality and covetousness are incompatible with inheriting God's kingdom.

• Romans 12:2 — Allow God to transform your thinking rather than conforming to this world.

The Christian is not called to adopt the world's standards and then attach God's name to them. We are called to live differently because we belong to Christ.

7. Do not become part of the wrongs that you oppose. Become a part of the solution, not apart of the nation's problem. 

There is another important biblical warning here.

When someone cheats, lies, or acts unjustly against us, we may feel justified in retaliating. We may want to expose, embarrass, punish, or repay that person in the same way.

But personal vengeance is not our calling.

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:19 KJV

Romans 12:17–21 teaches us to pursue what is honorable, live peaceably as far as possible, and overcome evil with good.

Proverbs 20:22 similarly warns against taking revenge.

This does not mean ignoring injustice, excusing wrongdoing, abandoning lawful accountability, or refusing to protect those who are vulnerable. It means we must pursue justice without allowing bitterness and revenge to corrupt our own character.

We should never become dishonest in the name of opposing dishonesty.

8. The greatest motivation for honesty is our love for God. You don't want to hurt or keep hurting the One who can permanently take you out. He can do that... sooner rather than later. 

Statisticians these days tell us that two people die every single second on average, and 120 die every minute, and 7, 000 people die every hour. 

Man, this means that every day, on average, 174,000 people enter eternity. I want people to be ready for that moment. Ask for the holy fear of God. Please don't make God feel like getting you at room temperature. 

On television crime programs, investigators sometimes question a suspect until the pressure becomes overwhelming and a confession finally comes.

But Christian confession is meant to arise from something far better than pressure or fear of exposure.

We confess because we recognize God's holiness, love His truth, and desire to walk in fellowship with Him.

Jesus taught that loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:36–38).

When we confess our sin, we stop defending what God condemns. When we repent, we turn away from the behavior that dishonors Him. When we seek reconciliation, we demonstrate that other people's welfare matters to us.

And when we receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ, we have a reason to live differently.

Romans 12:17 calls us to consider what is honorable in the sight of all. Our Christian testimony is not established by claiming perfection. It is demonstrated by how we respond when we recognize that we have been wrong.

A believer who admits wrongdoing rather than protecting an image, accepts responsibility rather than shifting blame, and makes restitution rather than offering empty apologies gives people a meaningful picture of the transforming grace of God.

The gospel does not teach us to pretend we have never sinned. It teaches us to bring our sin to Christ, receive His forgiveness, and walk in newness of life.

NEED A GOOD WARNING OR AN UPLIFTING WORD TO TAKE WITH YA?

• Proverbs 11:1 – "The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight."

• Proverbs 20:10 – "Differing weights and differing measures—the Lord detests them both."

• Micah 6:11 – "Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights?"

• Proverbs 10:9 – "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out."

• Proverbs 29:4 – "By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who demand bribes tear it down."

• 2 Corinthians 4:2 – "Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God."

• Leviticus 19:11 – "Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another."

• Psalm 5:6 – "You destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest."

• Galatians 6:7 – "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." 

There is no lasting victory in dishonesty (that is in Christ). There's no genuine peace in a concealed or repeated sin, and no real and honorable success built upon deception. That is in knowing and following Jesus Christ of the Bible.  

A person may escape an earthly investigation, but not God's perfect knowledge. A person may preserve a public reputation while privately knowing the truth. But the Lord sees the heart, and every person will ultimately answer to Him.

So, if you have done wrong, do not spend the rest of your life defending it. Confess it. Forsake it. Make things right where possible. Receive God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and begin walking in truth.

And if someone has wronged you, resist the temptation to become like the person who hurt you. Pursue what is right, leave vengeance to God, and guard your own integrity.

It is better to lose an advantage than to lose your integrity. Better to admit a wrong and repent than to spend years defending a lie. Better to walk humbly with God than to stand proudly before people while living dishonestly. Believe in the living Word of God. 

The world may reward appearances. God desires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6).

Let us therefore be people whose private lives agree with our public professions, whose words can be trusted, whose dealings are honest, and whose consciences are governed by the Word of God.

When all is said and done, the greatest victory is not getting ahead of other people. It is finishing our course faithfully while knowing and following (obeying) the Lord.

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." Hebrews 9:27-28. 

Be ready for that moment. Get ready. 

Walk in truth.. a daily choice. Tell on yourself, turn yourself in. Go wisely tell the right authorities about other cheaters hurting innocent people. Practice integrity. Love your neighbor. Repent when you fall. And remember: the One before whom we will all stand is also the Savior who graciously calls sinners to come to Him.

Repentance is NOT merely feeling sorry or sad (like Judas did) about being exposed to Authority or 'bout getting caught.

The only God, the God of the Bible, who holds people accountable.. graciously invites sinners to confess, repent of cheating and other sins, and then walk in a new direction with Jesus as Lord.

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17 

Did you see the cheating that hurts others here? Go report it. Remember, 47 promised to then give you one million dollars! 

"Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." James 4:17 nlt

What the Liberals with Rinos get away with ..with this recent Texas election, they will go do with all future US elections.

They did it before in the USA, and if nothing is really done to properly fix this corruption.. we'll soon see 50 blue states. Can you even imagine the filth of San Fran or LA, or NYC? Dems with RINOs trash all their towns. California had Reagan and he won 49 states, and that's the time when they started importing illegals to give freebies to. Now CA is a totally loss.. no Conservative will ever win there again. We need another Great Awakening. All of CA used to be breathtakingly beautiful. #NOMO

Factoid: With a blue Texas there will never be another Conservative President in the USA. Pray for a genuine revival that spawns another Great Awakening in the States.

They finally.. a wee bit late... now 11/7/26... passed the Election Integrity Bill. The Save Act is Law after 47 signs it.

It's far better to lose here living honestly in the Lord, doing the right thing (that's biblical) in His will and be able to win on the Day of Judgment. You've got to keep that heavenly perspective. American citizens, and those of other nations in the West and East have been ripped off way too many times!

Do you tend to commit sins of omission or of commission? God can help you stop that -- come to Christ today as you are.

Here are some more verses on this...

Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Hebrews 13:4
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Proverbs 10:9
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

Proverbs 19:1
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Proverbs 6:32
He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

Luke 6:31
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Proverbs 28:6
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Luke 16:10-12
One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

James 1:26
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Mark 11:25
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:17-21
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Ephesians 5:5
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Proverbs 16:28
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

"Go.. tell." (Part 3)

Who me.. why should I tell people? 

Why should I walk tight with Jesus and get His gospel message (and my own story of faith) across to people? Cuz this and acceptable worship is why he has left you here to this day. 

"He that winneth souls is wise." Prov. 11:30b

"The most gigantic undertaking god has laid out for the Christian is to lead lost souls (people) to Jesus." ~ L.R. Scarborough

"You have only one business on earth -- to (be involved with) saving souls." ~ John Wesley

"Sharing Jesus is my business, just as much as practicing law is the business of Richard 'Racehorse' Haynes." ~ Fred Gage

Remember when  Jesus invites his first disciples—Simon Peter and Andrew—to leave their fishing nets and join him? "And He said to them, 'Follow Me as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk, and I will make you fishers of men.'" Matthew 4:19 

The main aim for you and me: to know Him well, and make Him well known.

Charles Spurgeon declared the one horizontal business of Christians, including himself, is to be soul-winning: 

"Lives with many aims are like water trickling through innumerable streams, none of which are wide enough or deep enough to float the merest cockleshell of a boat; but a life with one object is like a mighty river flowing between its banks, bearing to the ocean a multitude of ships, and spreading fertility on either side."

You are going to exist in one of two places for a really long time, and they will too. I do work some 40 hours these days so it's not always so easy to get together, but I want my friends with me long term, don't you? Perhaps you've heard that before, but let's talk about the inevitability of physical death and the impending judgment, referenced in Hebrews 9:27-28. The rate of death isnpretty high, with an average of 174,000 people entering eternity each day. They concluded by encouraging listeners to recognize the brevity of life to grow in wisdom and seize opportunities to serve the Lord.

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." Hebrews 9:27-28. 

Let me point out that your appointment and my appointment with death may come much sooner than we expect. 

I have a Christian friend who just changed address. His name is Israel Flores Arbolay, and he lost his wife to cancer not long ago. He and I enjoy teaching the Bible, and I enjoyed listening to him over me. I remember how shaken he felt when his dear wife passed away. Israel relocated while up in Colorado on a business trip. Both seemed way to young. Our loss, their gain. 

Man, I'm going to miss Mr. and Mrs Israel Arbolay! (IFA Feb 8, 1964 - Oct 16, 2026).

Statisticians these days tell us that two people die every single second on average, and 120 die every minute, and 7, 000 people die every hour. Man, this means that every day, on average, 174,000 people enter eternity. I want people to be ready for that moment. 

The New Testament author James wrote how do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog. It's here a little while. Then it's gone. James chapter 4, verse 14. I say this not to alarm you, but to motivate you.

The psalmist taught us: Teach us to realize the brevity of life so that we may grow in wisdom.

Psalm 90, verse 12. As we grow in God's kind of wisdom instead of worldly wisdom, we recognize that every day is a chance to serve the Lord. It's such a joy to biblically witness by life, good attitude, and words (of truth). It's a joy to biblically disciple young Christians as well.  Neither have to get spooky-weird, religiously-legalistic or controlling ever!  To make a difference for his eternal Kingdom is thrilling. To seize the opportunities the Holy Spirit sets before us exciting!

LORD, TEACH ME TO WISELY NUMBER MY DAYS HERE. I WANT TO LIVE WITH ETERNITY IN VIEW.

Life is brief. Eternity is certain. Christ is our only hope, and today is an opportunity to live for Him.

We spend much of our lives planning for tomorrow: our careers, retirement, vacations, financial security, and the things we hope to accomplish. Planning wisely is not wrong. But there is one appointment none of us can cancel, postpone, or avoid forever: death. And beyond death lies eternity.

The Bible does not tell us these things to frighten us into despair, but to awaken us to wisdom. We are not promised tomorrow, and we should not live as though we own unlimited time.

Hebrews 9:27–28 KJV

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Death is not the end of our existence. It is the end of our earthly opportunity to respond to God. Scripture teaches that we will stand before Him. That reality should change how we think, how we live, what we pursue, and what we consider important.

1. Life is shorter than we think. Eternity is longer than we can imagine.

We can become so occupied with making a living that we forget to prepare for eternity. Yet every passing day brings us closer to our final earthly appointment.

You may have heard estimates suggesting that approximately 174,000 people die each day. Such figures are estimates, not fixed daily counts, and depend on the year and source. But we don't need a statistic to establish the truth: death is an unavoidable reality of human existence.

James gives us a striking picture of life's brevity:

James 4:14 KJV

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

A morning mist appears over the ground, catches the sunlight, and soon disappears. That is James's picture of our earthly lives. We are here for a little while, and then our time is gone.

We may live five years or 105 years, but measured against eternity, even a long life is brief.

This isn't a reason to live fearfully. It is a reason to live wisely. We should not waste the precious days God has entrusted to us on things that will have no lasting value.

The question isn't simply how many years we have left. It's what we are doing with the days we have been given.

2. Ask God for His wisdom to recognize the value of every day.

Moses understood something many people spend a lifetime avoiding: we need God's perspective to understand the brevity of our lives and the seriousness of our accountability to Him.

Psalm 90:12 KJV

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

To number our days means more than counting birthdays or calculating how much time we might have left. It means living with an honest awareness that our earthly opportunities are limited.

Notice that Moses doesn't merely ask God for more days. He asks for a heart of wisdom.

Why? Because having more time does not necessarily mean living more wisely. A person can live a long life and accomplish very little of eternal significance. Another person may have a comparatively short life and faithfully serve Christ with the time entrusted to them.

Moses himself knew the seriousness of God's holiness. He had experienced the consequences of his own disobedience (Numbers 20:12). Even someone who knew the Lord intimately was not exempt from accountability.

The lesson is clear: we need more than good intentions, busy schedules, and ambitious plans. We need hearts shaped by God's Word.

Wisdom teaches us to distinguish between what is merely urgent and what is eternally important.

3. Don't make earthly success or your employment here your ultimate pursuit. Not of us need to worship that idol -- we can worship the Lord alone

Jesus told a sobering story about a wealthy man who had accumulated so much that he needed larger barns to store his possessions.

His future seemed secure. He had plenty to enjoy, years to relax, and plans to live comfortably.

But he had forgotten the most important Person in his life: God.

Luke 12:19–21 records the man's self-confident plans. That very night, God required his soul. His possessions remained behind, and his carefully constructed future ended.

Jesus concluded:

Luke 12:21 KJV

"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

What a tragedy: to prepare for retirement but not eternity; to accumulate possessions but neglect one's soul; to build a comfortable life while remaining spiritually unprepared.

There is nothing inherently wrong with earning money, enjoying God's provisions, planning for retirement, or taking a well-deserved vacation. Scripture does not condemn responsible planning or appropriate enjoyment.

The danger is allowing earthly blessings to become our reason for living.

Our homes, careers, bank accounts, achievements, and possessions are temporary trusts, not eternal treasures.

Jesus gives us a better priority:

Matthew 6:33 KJV

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

A wise person doesn't necessarily abandon earthly responsibilities. Rather, he puts them in their proper place under the lordship of Christ.

Don't spend your whole life preparing to enjoy what you cannot keep while neglecting the One you will meet.

4. Every day is a gift -- is an opportunity to accomplish something that matters to God and glorifies Him.

Jesus lived with a clear understanding of His Father's purposes and the urgency of His earthly mission.

John 9:4 KJV

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."

Jesus understood that earthly opportunities are limited. He did not waste His life pursuing applause, personal comfort, or the approval of people. He came to do the Father's will.

We should learn from His example.

God has given believers opportunities to love people, share the Gospel, encourage the discouraged, care for the hurting, forgive those who have wronged us, serve faithfully, and make disciples.

Sometimes the most meaningful things we do will never be publicly recognized.

A conversation with someone who is hurting, a sincere prayer, a word of encouragement, an act of kindness, or a faithful explanation of the Gospel may have consequences extending far beyond what we can see.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God has prepared for us to walk in.

We are not saved by our good works. We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). But genuine salvation produces a changed life, one increasingly characterized by obedience, love, and good works.

The Christian life is not about being busy for the sake of being busy. It is about being faithful with the opportunities God gives us.

You don't have to be famous to be fruitful. You don't have to stand before a crowd to make an eternal difference. You simply need to be faithful to Christ wherever He has placed you.

5. Live prepared for eternity, because death is followed by judgment.

We cannot afford to misunderstand the Gospel.

The Bible does not teach that everyone automatically enters heaven simply because they have lived a reasonably good life. Nor does it teach that religious activity, charitable deeds, church attendance, or moral respectability can erase our sins.

You and I have blown it before. We have all sinned and need a Savior (Romans 3:23).

God's answer to our greatest problem is Jesus Christ. He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Through His death and resurrection, God provides forgiveness and reconciliation for everyone who repents and places their faith in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

What an extraordinary exchange! Christ, who was sinless, bore the judgment our sins deserved so that sinners could be reconciled to a holy God.

That is grace. That is the Gospel. That is our hope.

For the believer, the judgment seat of Christ is a serious reality. Our service and stewardship will be evaluated (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:12–15). Our salvation rests in Christ, not in the merit of our accomplishments.

For those who reject Christ, Scripture warns of the final judgment (John 3:18; Revelation 20:11–15).

This is why eternity matters so profoundly. We must not assume that tomorrow will provide another opportunity to repent, believe, obey, or share the Gospel.

Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

6. Hold this world loosely, and hold Christ closely.

James's warning about life's brevity also challenges our tendency to make confident plans without acknowledging God's sovereignty.

James 4:13–15 teaches us not to boast about tomorrow. We do not control the future. We should make plans humbly, recognizing that our lives and circumstances remain in God's hands.

That doesn't mean we stop planning. It means we stop pretending we are in control.

Sometimes God allows circumstances to interrupt our plans, expose misplaced priorities, or remind us that this world is not our permanent home.

Philippians 3:20 KJV

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."

For the Christian, death is not the loss of Christ. It is the entrance into His presence.

Paul expressed this confidence:

Philippians 1:21 KJV

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

That is the perspective of someone whose greatest treasure is not what this world offers, but the Lord Jesus Himself.

We can enjoy God's creation, love our families, work diligently, appreciate beautiful things, and receive life's blessings with gratitude. But none of these should take the place of Christ.

Our earthly journey is temporary. Our home with Him is eternal.

A few truths worth carrying into every day

• Life is brief: Don't presume upon tomorrow.

• God is holy: Live with an awareness of your accountability to Him.

• Christ is our hope: Be certain that your confidence rests in His finished work, not your own goodness.

• Time is a stewardship: Invest it in what honors God and serves people.

• Good works matter: Not as the price of salvation, but as the fruit of genuine faith.

• Eternity is real: Make decisions today in light of the day you will stand before God.

Here's a simple prayer for a life that counts:

In your own words, would you confess, repent, trust (Him), you know, say something like this to your heavenly Father? 

Father God, thank You for the gift of another day. I want to walk right with You, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Teach me to see my life through Your eternal perspective. Keep me from being too silly, too distracted, or wasting precious time on selfish ambitions, on empty pursuits, and on things that will not last. Give me your kind of wisdom to recognize the good opportunities You place before me. Open some doors please and help me go through - in your will. Help me love You most, not blessings most. Help me love people genuinely, not use them. Give me the words so I can speak the truth graciously, share the Gospel faithfully, and serve You wholeheartedly. May my remaining days here on earth bring honor to Jesus Christ for your glory. Help me live ready to meet You face to face, not with confidence in myself or what I have done or not done, but with confidence in Your grace cuz of the Cross and empty tomb of Jesus. Amen.

You cannot go back and relive yesterday. You cannot guarantee tomorrow. But by God's grace, you can choose how you live today.

One day, our earthly opportunities will be over. Our possessions will remain behind, our calendars will be closed, and our accomplishments will be seen in their proper eternal perspective.

The question will not be how much we accumulated, how many people admired us, or how comfortable we made ourselves.

What will matter is whether we knew Christ, whether we were faithful to Him, and whether we lived as people who understood that eternity is real.

As the old hymn reminds us, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” 

Number your days. Treasure Christ. Love people. Share the Gospel. Be faithful with today's opportunities.

Don't merely count your days. Make your days count for the glory of God.

Because the greatest use of a temporary life is to live it for the One who gives eternal life.

A few additional Scripture passages worth studying

Scripture	Application
Psalm 39:4–5	Recognize life's brevity.
Ecclesiastes 12:13–14	Fear God and remember accountability.
Matthew 6:19–21	Store up treasures in heaven.
Ephesians 5:15–17	Walk wisely and redeem the time.
Colossians 3:1–4	Set your affections on things above.
1 Corinthians 15:58	Remain steadfast in the Lord's work.
2 Timothy 4:7–8	Finish the race faithfully.
Revelation 22:12	Christ is coming with His reward.

My former pastor, Greg Laurie is the one who told me there are 174,000 daily human deaths. When I think about that, I sense God's urgency with our mission He gave us believers. I want my friends to have the same assurance of salvation that I enjoy here. 

What are some Bible verses about assurance?

Is that true, that I can enjoy an assurance of my salvation? Yes, the Bible says so.

What does “full assurance of faith” mean (Hebrews 10:22)? 

What does it mean that the Spirit testifies with our human spirit?

What does the Bible say about our living hope?

If you doubt your salvation at times, does that mean you are not truly saved?

How can I stop questioning my salvation?

My last breath on earth becomes my first breath in heaven with Christ. 

While death brings each reborn believer into Christ's presence, Scripture does not promise that every earthly disappointment will be rewarded with visible success in this life while here. Our hope is Christ Himself. 

Want a forever family and God's kind of abundant and eternal life? Come as you are? 

Time management with the holy fear of God inside? 

TIME IS A GIFT - SPEND IT FOR WHAT MATTERS ETERNALLY.

Get right and win souls to Jesus. Living wisely, working faithfully, resting thankfully, and loving people well.

Time is one of God's most precious earthly gifts, yet it is remarkably easy to spend it without thinking about where it goes. We carefully guard our money, make plans for our careers, and protect our possessions, but how often do we consider whether we are investing our days in what matters most to God?

Our earthly lives are far shorter than we tend to imagine. David recognized this when he prayed:

Psalm 39:4–5 KJV

"LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity."

James gives us another unforgettable picture:

James 4:14 KJV

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."

Our time here is temporary. We are travelers, not permanent residents of this present world. Therefore, wisdom requires more than filling our calendars with activities. It requires knowing what deserves our attention, what God has entrusted to us, and what will still matter when our earthly work is finished.

The goal isn't simply to fit more into our days. It is to put more of what matters to God into the days we have.

1. Live with eternity in view.

Moses prayed this Psalm 90:12 KJV...

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Notice what he asks God to teach him. Not merely how to live longer, but how to live wisely.

When we understand that our days are numbered, our priorities begin to change. We become less impressed by temporary achievements and more concerned with pleasing the Lord. We recognize that our opportunities to love, serve, forgive, encourage, witness, and obey are gifts that should not be taken for granted.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set eternity in the human heart. We were not created merely to accumulate possessions, pursue entertainment, and occupy ourselves until our lives are over. We were created to know our Creator and live in relationship with Him.

And because our lives belong to God, we will give an account of our stewardship.

C. S. Lewis expressed a remarkable truth about the relationship between eternity and earthly usefulness:

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next."

That is a powerful observation. An eternal perspective does not make Christians indifferent to this world. Properly understood, it makes us more attentive to the people living in it.

When we know where eternity is found, we care more deeply about where people are headed.

2. Spend your time wisely. Opportunities do not remain open forever.

The apostle Paul gives us a practical command:

Ephesians 5:15–16 KJV

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Redeeming the time means making good use of the opportunities God gives us. It means recognizing the value of our days instead of allowing them to disappear into distractions, unnecessary busyness, and misplaced priorities.

Our world constantly competes for our attention. Notifications, entertainment, responsibilities, work pressures, personal ambitions, and endless demands can consume our days before we realize where the time went.

Some things are necessary. Others are simply noisy.

Wisdom teaches us to distinguish between the two.

Jesus reminded His followers:

Luke 10:2 KJV

"The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

There are people around us who need the Gospel, encouragement, compassion, and the truth of God's Word. We should not become so occupied with our own schedules that we overlook the people God places directly in our paths.

Sometimes the opportunity to minister is not on our calendar. It comes through an unexpected conversation, a hurting person, a family member who needs patience, or a stranger who needs someone to listen.

We must learn to care before we share, but never forget that people need more than our kindness. They need the hope found in Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:18 KJV

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

Our love should be visible. Our faith should influence how we treat people. And our words should point others toward the Savior.

A life well spent is not measured merely by how much we accomplish, but also by how faithfully we love the people God places in our lives.

3. Establish godly priorities. Don't let lesser things crowd out greater things.

One of the greatest challenges in managing time is that almost everything seems to demand our attention.

Work, family, household responsibilities, finances, appointments, recreation, and personal obligations all have their place. But when everything becomes equally important, the truly important things are easily neglected.

We need to establish priorities according to God's Word.

That means deliberately making room for:

• Fellowship with the Lord through Scripture and prayer.

• Loving and caring for our families.

• Gathering with other believers and strengthening the church.

• Faithful work and responsible stewardship.

• Sharing the Gospel and making disciples.

• Serving others with humility and compassion.

• Rest, recreation, and appropriate enjoyment of God's provisions.

We should also learn the wisdom of delegation.

In Exodus 18:13–22, Moses was attempting to handle an enormous burden of responsibility by himself. His father-in-law, Jethro, wisely advised him to appoint capable men to help carry the work.

Moses needed to recognize that doing everything himself was neither sustainable nor wise.

There is an important lesson here: responsibility does not require us to personally do everything.

Sometimes good stewardship means accepting help, sharing responsibility, training others, and recognizing our human limitations.

Pride can make us believe that everything depends on us. Wisdom teaches us to serve faithfully without pretending to be indispensable.

4. Work diligently. Remember Whom you ultimately serve.

Scripture does not commend laziness or irresponsibility. God honors diligence, faithfulness, and honest labor.

From the beginning, God established a pattern of work and rest in creation (Genesis 2:2–3). Work is not a curse in itself. Before sin entered the world, God gave Adam responsibility to cultivate and keep the garden (Genesis 2:15).

The problem is not work. The problem is allowing work, possessions, or personal ambition to become our master.

Proverbs repeatedly warns against laziness:

Proverbs 6:10–11 KJV

"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man."

See also Proverbs 12:24; 13:4; 18:9; 20:4; 21:25; 26:14.

Jesus' Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30) likewise illustrates the seriousness of stewardship. The servants were entrusted with their master's resources and were expected to be faithful with what they had received.

We should take our earthly employment seriously. Whether our work is highly visible or largely unnoticed, we should approach it with honesty, excellence, and a willingness to serve.

Paul writes:

Colossians 3:23–24 KJV

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

What a difference this perspective makes!

Your workplace can become a place of Christian witness. Your ordinary responsibilities can become expressions of faithfulness. Your interactions with people can demonstrate the character of Christ.

You do not have to be standing behind a pulpit to serve the Lord. You can honor Him in an office, a hotel, a classroom, a kitchen, a hospital, or wherever He has placed you.

But remember: our employment is not our ultimate calling, and our paycheck is not our eternal reward.

Jesus warned against working exclusively for temporary, earthly benefits:

John 6:27 KJV

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."

He also taught us to store up treasures in heaven rather than making earthly possessions our greatest pursuit (Matthew 6:19–21).

This does not mean we should neglect our responsibilities or work carelessly. It means we should never allow the pursuit of material security to consume the life God has given us.

Work hard, but don't worship your work. Earn a living, but don't forget why you are living. Give your best, but give your heart first to Christ.

5. Rest is not wasted time. It is part of God's wisdom.

Being productive every waking moment is not the biblical definition of faithfulness.

God established a pattern of work and rest (Genesis 2:2–3). Jesus Himself invited His disciples to step away from their demanding ministry responsibilities:

Mark 6:31 KJV

"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."

Consider the tenderness of that invitation. Jesus recognized that His disciples needed rest.

We are not machines. We have physical, emotional, and spiritual limitations. Ignoring those limitations does not necessarily demonstrate greater devotion to God.

Rest allows us to recover, regain perspective, and return to our responsibilities with renewed strength.

It also reminds us of an important truth: God is God, and we are not.

The world will continue turning while we sleep. Our responsibilities may be many, but the burden of sustaining the universe has never been ours.

Rest is not an excuse for laziness, just as hard work is not an excuse for neglecting our health, families, or fellowship with God.

Wisdom recognizes the proper place of both.

We should work faithfully, rest gratefully, and trust God with what we cannot control.

6. Make time with God your daily priority.

Of all the appointments we make, none should be more important than meeting with the Lord.

We can become so occupied doing things for God that we neglect spending time with God.

We may fill our days with responsibilities, Christian activities, ministry projects, and even good works, yet gradually allow our personal fellowship with Christ to become an afterthought.

That is a dangerous exchange.

Jesus told Martha, who was distracted by many necessary preparations, that Mary had chosen the better part by sitting at His feet and listening to His teaching (Luke 10:38–42).

The lesson is not that serving is unimportant. It is that our service must never replace our relationship with the Savior.

We need time in God's Word, not merely to collect information, but to know Him, understand His character, recognize His will, and allow His truth to shape our lives.

We need prayer, not merely to present requests, but to worship, confess, give thanks, seek wisdom, and bring our hearts before Him.

Jesus regularly withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16). If the Son of God made time for prayer during His earthly ministry, we should never imagine that we can live fruitful Christian lives while consistently neglecting it.

The most important part of your day is not necessarily what you accomplish for the Lord, but whether you are walking with the Lord as you accomplish it.

Ask Him for wisdom. Invite His correction. Submit your plans to His Word. Remain sensitive to opportunities to serve, even when they interrupt your carefully arranged schedule.

Our days belong to Him. We should manage them as stewards, not owners.

7. Examine your priorities and make the necessary changes.

If we want to use our time more wisely, we must first become honest about how we are currently spending it.

Good intentions are not enough. We need thoughtful examination, prayer, and practical changes. What questions should I consider? 

1. My relationship with God: Am I making daily time with Him in Scripture, in prayer, in worship, and in heart to heart fellowship with Christ?

2. My relationships: Am I giving meaningful attention to my spouse, family, friends, and fellow believers?

3. My work: Am I working diligently and faithfully without allowing my employment to consume my life?

4. My ministry: Am I taking opportunities to share the Gospel, encourage others, and serve people?

5. My priorities: What repeatedly occupies my attention that contributes little to my spiritual growth or the good of others?

6. My rest: Am I making appropriate room for physical refreshment, recreation, and time with those I love?

7. My eternity: If I continue living according to my present priorities, will my life increasingly reflect what Scripture says matters?

It may help to write down your responsibilities, establish realistic priorities, and examine how your actual schedule compares with what you profess to value.

Some adjustments may be necessary. Certain activities may need to be reduced, responsibilities delegated, or neglected relationships given renewed attention.

Reviewing our priorities periodically is wise because life changes, responsibilities change, and opportunities change.

The objective is not to create a perfect schedule. It is to cultivate a faithful life.

8. Invest your days in what will outlast them.

When everything is considered, the wisest use of time is to invest it in what God declares valuable.

Time spent knowing Christ through His Word and prayer is never wasted.

Time spent strengthening the church, encouraging fellow believers, and building one another up is time well invested (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Time spent loving others as Christ commanded is time with eternal significance (John 13:34–35).

Time spent caring for people in practical ways demonstrates that our faith is genuine (1 John 3:17–18).

And time spent faithfully sharing the Gospel and making disciples fulfills the mission Jesus entrusted to His followers (Matthew 28:18–20).

We should not confuse eternal significance with public recognition. God sees faithfulness that others overlook. He knows the quiet sacrifices, unseen prayers, private acts of kindness, and ordinary obedience that never make headlines.

Nor should we measure faithfulness by the visible results of our efforts. We are responsible to obey God and faithfully sow the seed. God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6–7).

Paul offers you and me this encouragement:

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

What a wonderful promise! Work done faithfully for Christ is never wasted, even when we cannot see its full results.

The world may forget many things we accomplish. People may never recognize some of our sacrifices. But nothing done sincerely for the glory of Christ is overlooked by God.

Don't merely fill your days. Fill them with faithfulness. Don't simply occupy your time. Invest it in Christ, His people, and His purposes.

A prayer for wisdom in using our time

Heavenly Father, thank You for entrusting me with another day -- this moment even. Forgive me for the times I have allowed distractions to get in the way, and selfish ambitions, and unnecessary busyness, or misplaced priorities to consume the time You have given me.

Teach me to number my days and develop a heart of wisdom. Help me recognize what matters most to You. Give me discipline to work diligently, humility to accept my limitations, and wisdom to rest when I need to rest. Please use me to win souls like Jesus did. He alone can save people, but I want to do my part. 

Above all, keep my heart close to Jesus. Help me love people genuinely, recognize opportunities to minister, speak the Gospel faithfully, and use my life to bring glory to Your name.

May I never become so busy with the activities of life that I neglect the Giver of life. Let my remaining days be marked by faith, obedience, love, and a growing knowledge of Christ.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Time is not ours to possess indefinitely. It is God's gift, entrusted to us one day at a time.

We cannot recover yesterday, and we cannot guarantee tomorrow. But we can ask God for wisdom to live faithfully today.

So make time for Jesus. Love your family. Care about people. Work honestly. Serve faithfully. Share the Gospel. Encourage the church. Rest when appropriate. And don't allow temporary distractions to rob you of eternal priorities.

One day, our earthly schedules will end. Our careers will be finished, our possessions will be left behind, and our opportunities to serve in this present life will be over.

But Christ remains.

The greatest investment of a temporary life is to know Jesus Christ, make Him known, and faithfully serve Him with every day He entrusts to us.

As Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 4:7–8 KJV

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

May that be said of us when our earthly course is finished.

I say to me and to you: Let's number your days wisely. Yes, walk with Jesus. Love people well. Finish faithfully in God's will.