Teach Us to Number Our Days

 Teach Us to Number Our Days- (Sheba International-Dr. Phil Spears)

Earlier this year, shocking news came across the airwaves—a former U.S. president and presidential candidate narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on July 13. Just a small twist of fate, a momentary turn of the head, and what could have been a tragic event was avoided. It was the kind of news that you remember exactly where you were when you first heard it, and the magnitude of that moment made you stop and reflect.

While the world watched in disbelief, many wondered how this close call might affect the candidate’s future, or even whether it would alter the toxic political discourse in the country. But for us, there’s a far deeper takeaway from this incident—something personal and introspective that we all must consider.

It’s easy to point fingers at others, to dissect their lives and decisions, but what if we stopped for a moment and took a long, hard look at our own lives? The reality of that close call serves as a stark reminder of how fragile and fleeting our time on earth truly is.

This moment invites us to reflect on one of Jesus' most powerful and urgent invitations: “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19). It’s an invitation that calls us to action, to live intentionally, and to invest our time in what truly matters. But what if, like the candidate, our lives were suddenly threatened? How would we live today if we knew there was no tomorrow?

The Parable of the Man with 24 Hours to Live

To help frame this, imagine a story of a man who goes for a routine medical check-up. After a series of tests, the doctor calls him in for a follow-up appointment. The doctor gives him bad news, followed by worse news. The man, anxious, asks to hear the bad news first. The doctor tells him, “The bad news is that you only have 24 hours to live.”

The man is distraught, overwhelmed by the thought of not having enough time to prepare for his impending death. In desperation, he exclaims, “What could possibly be worse than this?!”

The doctor looks at him calmly and says, “I was supposed to tell you yesterday, but I forgot.”

This story might be humorous in its unexpected twist, but the deeper truth it reveals is sobering: we often live as though we have all the time in the world, failing to recognize that life can change in an instant. The uncertainty of life should compel us to live with a sense of urgency, purpose, and deep awareness of how we’re using the precious time we’ve been given.

Reflecting on the Brevity of Life

Life is fragile. We often act as though we are immune to its brevity, forgetting that we don’t have unlimited time. While death and taxes seem certain for everyone else, we rarely live as though we’re on borrowed time. Yet, the Bible offers profound wisdom in addressing our human tendency to ignore our mortality. In Psalm 90:12, Moses prays, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

This prayer is a humble request for God’s help in recognizing the shortness of life so that we might make wise choices, invest our time wisely, and live for His purposes rather than our own fleeting desires. It’s a reminder that our days are numbered, and we should not take them for granted.

Living with Purpose

As Christians, we are called to live intentionally, knowing that our lives are a gift. We may not know when our time will run out, but we do know that God has a purpose for us right here, right now. The question is: How will we use the time we have?

Jesus’ invitation to “Follow Me” is not just a call to salvation, but to a life of purpose and service. The time we spend on this earth should be a reflection of that calling. Whether it’s in our relationships, our work, or the way we handle trials and challenges, we should live each day with the awareness that time is precious.

Let this be a wake-up call to each of us. When we reflect on the fleeting nature of life, let it drive us to pursue what matters most: growing closer to God, loving others, and using our time to glorify Him. Whether we have one more day or a lifetime, let us live with the wisdom that comes from numbering our days.

Conclusion: Counting Our Days Wisely

Life is unpredictable, and our time is limited. The moments we have today are precious and should not be taken for granted. As we reflect on the brevity of life, let us pray for God to teach us to number our days, that we might gain wisdom and live with intention. May we live today as though there is no tomorrow, seeking to follow Christ in every aspect of our lives, and making the most of the time He has given us.

Time is fleeting—let us not waste it. Instead, let us use it to follow Jesus, love others, and live out the purpose He has designed for us.

My Life For The Church

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