God gives us a brief time here on planet earth. Because our life is so short, he calls us “a passing breeze.”
But this little span of time we call a lifetime, though it’s only a blip in the eyes of the eternal God, is a supremely valuable gift from him. That’s because it’s our “time of grace,” the time God has given us so that the Holy Spirit has opportunities to call us to faith in Jesus, enlighten our hearts with the gospel, and gather us into the church.
And for God, there is no more highly valued goal than to see us in heaven, enjoying eternity in his presence.
This earthly life is the time we’ve been given to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ. It’s amazing — but God does not immediately destroy us for our sins. He does not get anywhere close to as angry as he could.
All of us have experienced this. It’s like the time when I put a big dent in the back of my Mom’s car. Of course, I thought she would be furious. But instead, she wasn’t very upset at all. Just the opposite! She was understanding and patient with me.
But far more importantly, all of us have experienced this with God, too. It’s just as the Psalmist Asaph wrote:
“Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return” (Psalm 78:38-39, NIV).
Lord, thank you for the mercy and grace you show me every day. Remind me that I am but a “passing breeze” and to wisely use every day to draw close to your word, so that your Holy Spirit will draw me close to Jesus.
Our Bible reading for Sunday, June 28, is 1 Kings 20:1 – 21:29, Acts 18:9 – 19:13 and Psalm 78:32-39.
Header image based on "Catch the Breeze" by Duncan Harris, CC By 2.0
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Our Bible reading for Sunday, June 28, is 1 Kings 20:1 – 21:29, Acts 18:9 – 19:13 and Psalm 78:32-39.
In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror. Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return. (Psalm 78:32-39 NIV)
Heavenly Father, you know my heart, my ways like no other. I proclaim my faith, my love to you and still I sin against you. Every day I see the sun one of your first creations, I see the wonder of your miracles, of your power. Everyday I thank you for today and my time of grace. Whether it’s a minute, or a moment after I somehow allow sin back into my heart. So Lord you can see all the more reason I need you. I need Jesus like a plant needs the sun. Without grace I cannot grow, I cannot explain to others the love that they deserve in Jesus name. Thank you Father for your forgiveness, thank you for walking with me and shaping my life, making the most of my time on the earth.
~Paul Montenieri
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