Day 29 – life
in the balance
Are you
more like Abraham, Moses, or David?
SELF-REFLECT
2
Recall a time when you, like David, were mired in sin and in need of repentance.
3
Can you remember when you were so worried about tomorrow that you were of little use today?
4.
Where are you now? Are you where you should be, where God wants you to be?
Send someone else. –MOSES,
to GOD
You are the man. –NATHAN,
to DAVID
Moses
tended to live in the past—always aware of his prior shortcomings, repeatedly
using his failures as an excuse. David was inclined to live in the
present—writing hymns during times of devotion, falling prey to the temptation
of the hour, gathering friends and associates about him, fighting the foe at
hand. Abraham was more of a future person—dreaming of a new journey and a new
home, focusing on being a blessing to generations to come, sometimes (as with
Hagar and Ishmael) taking the future into his own hands.
All
three of these men had to become more balanced to accomplish their tasks.
Moses
was able to put the past behind him, but this required him to trust God’s
provision each day and His promises for tomorrow. David learned to make the
most of the present by preparing for tomorrow (the temple was his dream) and
remembering his past mistakes. Abraham did become a blessing to future
generations, but he did so by remembering God’s divine call and acting it out
daily.
So must
we try to live a balanced life, giving as equal weight as possible to the
before, the now, and the after.
A
person who lives entirely in the past becomes stagnant and accomplishes little.
He becomes Moses before the Exodus, stuck in the wilderness with no purpose for
today or hope for tomorrow. That person needs a burning bush experience that
gets him looking forward.
A
person who lives entirely in the present becomes short-sighted and lets
emotions rule. He becomes David during his affair with Bathsheba, enjoying the
present with little regard for his past or his future. That person needs a
prophetic utterance that causes him to embrace his heritage and his legacy.
The
person who lives only in the future becomes out-of-touch, leaving tasks
unfinished and relationships abandoned to start something new. He becomes
Abraham sending his son Ishmael away because of the arrival of Isaac on the
scene. That person needs to realize that today matters and that what happens in
it is the proper foundation for future endeavors.
Of all
people in the Bible, Paul had perhaps the most balanced perspective. In many
ways he looked like a past person. He often referred to his early years,
testifying before Felix and Festus of his life before Christ and his Damascus
Road experience. He kept up with past friends and wrote to churches he had
started. But he was also a present person, using each day to spread the message
of Christ throughout the Roman Empire. And no one can deny that he was
future-oriented, always planning ahead. His offering for the Jerusalem church
was collected in anticipation of a visit there. His letter to the Roman church
mentioned his plans to come and fellowship with them in person. He was always
“pressing toward the goal.” Like his Master, nothing would take him off-course.
So
where are you now? If you find yourself stuck in the past, secluded in the
wilderness, paralyzed by your failures, God is not through with you. If you are
living only for today with little regard for the consequences, God is not
pleased with you. If you are dreaming your life away with nothing to show for
it, God has work for you. Determine to live a balanced life for God.
1
Have you ever been like Moses in the wilderness,
paralyzed by your past?
2
Recall a time when you, like David, were mired in sin and in need of repentance.
3
Can you remember when you were so worried about tomorrow that you were of little use today?
4.
Where are you now? Are you where you should be, where God wants you to be?
Daily Quotation
Genesis 12:7
Exodus 4:13
2 Samuel 12:7
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