Good morning and a blessed new year! Are you counting the days? Maybe you’re “recounting” the days of the past year and reflecting on the ups and downs, the blessings and trials of 2021. Most of us, no doubt, are also looking ahead and counting the days, counting the days till school starts again, counting the days till a vacation trip, or crossing off the days on the calendar till a major life event such as a graduation or wedding. Here on earth we live in time. Everything we do is connected to it. We speak of wasted time, investing time, time flying, and the right time. In Psalm 90:12 Moses too writes of time and counting days: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” From our perspective time is an uncertain, arbitrary thing. We can count hours and days, but we don’t know how much we or anyone else has. We can’t foretell or see the future. We wonder what we should do or where we should go. That is why Moses’ prayer is such a good one for us to offer this new year. We don’t know much about time or how to make the most of it, but God does. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Ps. 139:16). Each day of this new year is an undeserved gift of God’s grace. What’s more, it’s not by chance that we are living in this place and time. God has put each of us here at this moment according to His good will and plan for us. He loves us too much to leave anything to coincidence or uncertainty. From God’s perspective, the biography of our lives is already completed and written. He knit us together in our mothers’ wombs. He sent His Son to rescue us from sin and death. He adopted us into His family by faith. Resurrection and eternal life are on the way. What’s the best way to spend this temporary time on earth? Every day ask the Lord for wisdom and look for the answer in His Word. He teaches us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. Forgiveness, peace with Him, and eternal life are far more important than anything earthly which won’t last. Knowing by faith that all is well between us and God through Jesus gives us a joyful, positive view of each new day and year. Paul urges us to make the most of our time: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:19-20). Let’s count all our days as precious gifts to use for His glory! In Christ Jesus, Pastor We’ll follow our normal schedule tomorrow: Services at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. and adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. Holy Communion will be celebrated at both services.
