The Weekly Focal Point - January 23
Fleeting Life
Talk about perspective! The lyrics of Psalm 39 boldly prompt the worshipper to consider the brief nature of his or her time here on earth. Verses four and five read: Show me, O Yahweh, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. While that may be a depressing part of the Bible for our youth-idolizing culture, God isn’t trying to make us feel bad, his goal here and elsewhere is to get us to reprioritize our lives and motivate us to invest wisely with the days we have left. Consider the book of Ecclesiastes that reminds us that our short lives are often wasted chasing after things that, in the end, amount to nothing. Today, it is variously reported that the average American lifespan is approximately 75 years. That’s only about 27,394 days. It is enlightening to do the math and see how many days you have already spent and how many days you might expect (but not presume) to have left on this journey. If you do the math, don’t get depressed! Get motivated to make each remaining day count. Let us consciously invest in things that matter for eternity. May this daring perspective drive us to step up and stop waiting to make a difference for Christ!
--Pastor Mike
JANUARY OFFER
Nothing has the potential to capture your heart like a brand new baby—especially when it is your own. Seventeen years ago I experienced the joy of being a dad for the very first time. I can still remember that cute little guy all bundled up in blankets snuggled with his mom. He looked so small, so helpless, and so innocent. But I knew better. He might have been tiny and dependent, but he was not innocent, at least not in a theological sense. From the very moment of his existence, my son, like every other child, was a sinner.
As parents, one of our primary callings is preparing our children for conversion. Unfortunately, we are incapable of saving our kids. It is the Holy Spirit alone who convicts the heart and brings people to repentance. But we can equip our sons and daughter with a clear understanding of who God is. It is never too early to begin teaching your kids sound theology.
Our passion for helping families understand and communicate the gospel message is reflected in the book we chose this month. We would like to send you a copy as our “thank you” for your donation to Focal Point. Written by Marty Machowski, the book is titled Old Story New: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God. This substantial devotional provides 78 weeks of interactive material on biblical stories that all point back to the gospel message. As you read through with your family, you will have opportunities to study Scripture, discuss questions and pray together. Of course, this book is not just for parents. It is a useful resource for grandparents, aunts, uncles, Sunday school teachers, childcare workers, and anyone who has an opportunity to influence children and prepare them to know and follow after God.
Request Old Story New with your donation of any amount this month.
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