“Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:11-12)
Living under the Law, Moses was terrified by God’s anger. He saw it firsthand, as God punished faithless or idol-worshipping Israelites and even talked about wiping out the nation completely. God is unlimited power in a Person who loves people but punishes sin.
He has poured out his anger for our sin, as well. As Christians, that anger was unleashed on Jesus, who was crushed to pay the price we owed. We don’t have to be afraid of God’s anger any longer, forgiven by his grace for our faith in Jesus, but we had better not take his power or our sin lightly. We’re still fragile, momentary beings on this earth.
So how should we live now? Step 1: We need God’s help to remember that the clock is ticking. Fools spend time like they will never die. We can’t live wise lives without understanding there’s a deadline, a real one.
Notice, though, that Moses’ prayer is hopeful. Life may be hard, but with God’s help we can be wise. Our choices can make a difference. More hope for this hard life in tomorrow’s devo.
Think: What are some ways we might live foolishly, as if time was something that never runs out? What is the consequence of forgetting that our days will quickly fly away?
Pray: Ask God to help you to remember your days are limited so you can gain a heart of wisdom.
Do: Ask an wise friend how they feel about time, death, and wisdom. Do they wish they’d lived more wisely when they were younger – or not? Do they feel like the years are going by more and more quickly?