Dear Ones:
Moses had brought the people of Israel from Egypt, through the wilderness for forty years, to the border of the land of Canaan. It was there that the Lord told him: “…Behold thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge.” (Deut. 31:14) The limits of Moses’ time, and thus, opportunity, had been reached. Soon, he would be taken to be with the Lord. The next time we see him after his death is on the Mount of Transfiguration, there to comfort and encourage the Lord Jesus for the ordeal of the cross, which was before Him. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: Did Moses use his opportunity well, and did it truly count for eternity?
The same constraint of time that was imposed on Moses is also imposed upon us. “To everything there is a season, and A TIME to every purpose under heaven.” (Ecc. 3:1) When one looks at time in this perspective, we see that it is a gift, an opportunity, a privilege…AND it is associated with a PURPOSE. Time’s opportunity is always associated with a purpose in the economy of God. So, what is our opportunity, and what is our purpose?
One of those “bedrock” passages in Scripture which seems to answer so many questions at the same time is found in Psalm 37:3-5. “Trust in the Lord (…with all thine heart…Prov. 3:5), and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Why is this passage so very important? Because it deals first and foremost with the principle by which everything eternal becomes active in this life of ours…the principle of faith in God. Out of that life of faith, “goodness” becomes possible, not only in the essence of it, but in its practice. God’s provision is promised. The centrality of worship is emphasized, and the knowledge of His work in us by the Spirit is revealed. Lastly, there is the deliberate commitment of all that pertains to our existence to God, with the CERTAINTY that He will “…bring it to pass” by His sovereign power. How can we use the opportunity at hand, and fulfill the purpose of God for our lives, unless we walk and live by faith, worshipping Him, and deliberately appropriating all from Him. “Faithful is He who calls you who WILL do it.” (1 Thess. 5:24).
Dear Lord, Thou hast said that we are to “…go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He may give it you.” (Jn. 15:16) Meet us this day in our minds, hearts, souls, and bodies, by Thy Spirit, in such a way, that we shall use well this opportunity of time. Enable us to walk and live by the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, and this in such a way, as to bring forth fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, for Thy glory. Bring us increasingly into conformity with Thy perfect will, way, and purpose for our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad