Daily Thought for Friday, November 4th

November 4, 2011

Learning to Live

Today’s Thought:

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” – Nelson Henderson

Today’s Quote:

“Life is a great bundle of little things.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Today’s Question:

Do you aspire to: “Endeavor to so live that when you come to die even the undertaker will be sorry?” – Mark Twain

Today’s Bible Verses:            Galatians 2:20 &  Philippians 1:20-25

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.” – A Latin Proverb

As Christians we need to come to terms with the reality that our lives here are not for or about us: but rather they should be for and about Him.

“The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” – Henry Miller

Scripture says this to us: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – The Bible (Romans 12:1-2)

Our lives are not our own, if we are Christians.  We have been bought with a price. And that price was the precious blood of God’s only Son.  So, in a sense we owe Him.  He has paid our debt, covered our sin and given us life everlasting to be spent in glory with Him.  In return He asks for our love, devotion and service.

Many Christians spend a great deal of time getting ready to do things for the Lord: but how many of us actually follow through and do what we set out too or what we intend too?

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “We are always getting ready to live but never living.”  For many Christians this is true too:  we are always getting ready to live for God, to do His work and to accomplish His will – but often we fall short when it comes to actual execution.

Leaning to live as a Christian requires a daily dying to ourselves, our plans and our will and a daily and conscience decision to take up our cross and follow Him – where ever He leads to do whatever He gives us to do.

Are you ready to start living?

May we say as Diana Ackerman did: “I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.”  Especially when it comes to having lived in service for My Lord.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, help me to live like there is no tomorrow with a zeal and motivation like today might be the last day I have to reach the world for You.

“Oh, how daily life is.”

- Jules Laforgue