Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15
Heavenly Father, you haven’t made us for “15 minutes in the spotlight,” but for an eternity of glorifying you and enjoying you forever. I praise you for such a hope and future—a future that’s already begun for us in Jesus. Our eternal life began the day you “raised us up in Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 2:6).
Yet this Scripture reminds us that our lifespan isn’t very long at all. We’re more like a brief mist than an aging oak. I realize this more than ever. You’ve numbered my days; how would you have me live the rest of my life, Father?
In light of the gospel, what should I spend more time doing, and less time doing? What do I need to make a bigger deal of, and a lesser deal of? What’ve I been putting off that really matters to you? Where in Jesus’ story of redemption and restoration would you have me invest more of passion and energy, joy and tears?
Where should I spend more of your money and less of my worries? With whom should I spend face-to-face and heart-to-heart time? Who’s coming behind me that I need to invest in?
What relationships have I wrongly allowed to claim and drain me—mentally and emotionally? Who am I still holding hostage by the chains of my unforgiveness and bitterness? Free me, Lord. Give me wisdom.
Father, I praise you that I’m not going to merit any more of your affection by doing a better job with any of these things. None of these questions has a scorecard attached to it. It’s Jesus’ performance and record I boast in. But your grace frees us to ask the right questions and live a freer, more intentional life. Make my gospel-bucket-list for me, Father. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ matchless and magnificent name.
