Saturday, April 2, 2011

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

¹² Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Rom. 6:12-23 

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

John 8:47-59 

⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Arguably the two biggest bible writers of the ages outline a simple message. We fancy our problems, our accomplishments or ourselves too much.  Come on, let’s get some perspective!

Moses was a nationalist.  A prince of Egypt and at the height of his power and vigor, he intended to save Israel.  He killed an Egyptian, fled for 40 years and returned as an old stuttering man, as one who was called rather than one who presumed.  He knew Israel’s salvation had little to do with his power, station, strength or vigor.  Years later his prayer is for a heart of wisdom that we might relish our days.

Paul was a religious fanatic who sneered at the dead martyr Stephen.  He organized the forces of Israeli justice to persecute and murder Christians.  Full of blood lust and righteous indignation, he was struck blind on the road to Damascus to open his eyes to a God of love and mercy.  He prayed to be alive for Christ.  Both would reminisce on large tracts of their lives – I am sure – as time lost on vain ambitions. 

In my fifth decade now, my ambitions are not as grandiose as virile Moses or brilliant Paul’s.  Survive another day/week of work, hang, renew and recreate on the weekend…only to do it again.  In fact, they seem petty in comparison, but they share the attribute of self-centeredness.  Something always comes along to disturb my plans, to inconvenience my time, to knock me out of sorts.  Me, me, me, me…lost perspective!  

So here’s the message for me and I share with you:  wake up, understand the precious gift of time and be alive to Christ.  Don’t dwell in the past or fret over the future. “Now” is the moment that touches eternity.  Get lost in the present, the eternal!  Allow the Holy Spirit to massage every thought, word and deed today, so that they become sacraments for those we touch with an ear, a glance or a word.  Guilt, shame, anger, etc. are nothing more than self-centeredness, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Give someone some love today.  Share the sacrament of the new life.  Let Christ’s love flow thru and heal others.  Laugh hard, feel hard, cry hard…get lost in the Great I AM.  That is the perspective that Moses and Paul sought!   Jesus died to remove any barrier to his presence, and we died to this world at our baptism.  Let’s count our days to make them count.

(Eric Grinstead)