“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
Genuine knowledge requires a correct foundation and worldview on which to base one’s understanding. Reverence and honor for the LORD God, who created the heavens and earth and sent His Son into the world to redeem us, are the beginning of genuine knowledge, but many foolishly despise and neglect the wisdom and instruction God gives us in His Word, the Bible.
LORD God, move me to read and study Your Word and honor You as my Creator and Redeemer. Amen.
“You carry them away like a flood; they fall asleep; in the morning they are like grass that grows anew: in the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it fades and withers. “ Psalm 90:5-6
The days of our lives pass quickly, and we die. They are like grass that grows up in the morning but is cut down and withers by evening. Because of our sins, God carries away our lives like a flood.
O LORD, let us recognize the brevity of our lives in this world that we might look to You for pardon and forgiveness in Christ Jesus, our only hope. Amen.
“You return man to the dust and say, “Return, O sons of men.” For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:3-4
We sometimes forget that physical death is part of the curse brought about by our sinfulness. God’s words to Adam are also true of us. We “return to the ground, because out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return” (Gen. 3:19). Whether we live 1,000 years or 70, it passes like a watch in the night and is nothing compared to eternity.
Eternal Father, grant to us a right understanding of sin and its consequences that we might repent of our sinful ways and look in faith to You for mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus and His cross before our days in this world have passed away. Amen.
“Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Psalm 90:1-2
Though our earthly lives are brief, the Lord God is from everlasting to everlasting. “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). He holds our very breath in His hands (cf. Dan. 5:23). How important it is that we remember that our Lord and Savior is the eternal God who created us and holds our lives in His hands!
O eternal God, grant that we see the brevity of our lives and our continual dependence upon You. Move us to live our lives revering You as our God and Maker and trusting in You for mercy in the shed blood of Christ Jesus, Your Son and our Savior. Amen.
“Whoever says he is in the light but hates his brother is in darkness even until now. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:9-11
A person who acknowledges his sins and looks in faith to Jesus Christ for pardon and forgiveness will also, as a fruit of faith, love his brother. In fact, a person cannot be a Christian and continue to hate his brother.
O gracious God, wash away my sins in Jesus’ blood and cleanse my heart that I might love those for whom my Savior shed His holy and precious blood. Amen.
