OYB February 22

Today´s reading:
OT: Leviticus 13
NT: Mark 6:1-29
Ps: Psalm 39
Pr: Proverbs 10:10

Today´s notable verses:

When a man has lost his hair and is bald, he is clean.

Leviticus 13:40 (NIV)

Woohoo! Now that's a motto I can live with: Bald is clean.

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

Mark 6:26 (NIV)

How sad; Herod recognized John the Baptist as a righteous and holy man, yet in his pride, he could not do what was right. Rather than admit publicly that righteousness and holiness are greater than himself, and refuse to give the order to behead John the Baptist, Herod acquiesced and allowed the heinous request to be fulfilled. Herod promised with an oath to give Herodias' daughter up to half his kingdom; however, righteousness and holiness surpass Herod's kingdom. I can't help but to think that Herod's sin with Herodias somehow led him into this situation, and facilitated the pride that precipitated his wrong decision. (Aside from the obvious, that had he not been sinning with Herodias, she would not have had reason to begrudge John the Baptist for pointing out their sin.)

Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.

Psalm 39:4 (NIV)

David is asking here for a "glimpse of eternity" - something for which we should all pray. How beneficial is this eternal perspective: if the entirety of my life is fleeting, as but a breath, then surely my trials and hardships are even more momentary and meaningless. Likewise, any glory I seek in this life fades in comparison to my coming glory in Christ at the last day - and seeking such vaporous vain glory only serves to rob myself of the eternal glory God would otherwise have for me. Instead, I should commit my fleeting life to God - the good and the bad, the glorious and the humiliating - and trust Him to work out all things for my good and for His glory.

The One Year Bible Blog asks:

Comments from You & Question of the Day - Back to Psalm 39 verse 5 above - how does this verse speak to you? Do you feel like life moves fast sometimes? If so, how are you spending your time? Are you being intentional about how you invest your time? Are you being intentional about your work? Your friends? Your finances? Volunteering? Serving others? Loving others? Watching TV – or not watching TV? ...Do you think life really is “but a breath”? Are you spending your breath wisely? With your breath are you constantly loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself?

We really must be careful how we live, not as unwise but as wise, and making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16). I don't so much look at this verse with respect to the speed of life, but rather with respect to the relative insignificance of life. From the eternal perspective, God's plan will be accomplished, according to His Will; I can choose either to allow God to use me for His Will, and so take part in that plan, or else I can choose to let God's plan happen without me - and render my life absolutely meaningless. I can choose to glorify God in everything, and receive my praise from Him alone, or else I can seek to usurp His praise from men, which will lead to God reclaiming His rightful glory at the expense of my eventual disgrace.