Considering Life Biblically

A year ago we planned on a party to celebrate Garry's mom reaching 85 years of age. But before as many of that family as could gathered to that end we learned that she had terminal cancer. So we still gathered but cancelled the party and had a different kind of celebration as each took time to share their love with her, not at a restaurant but at a hospice.

Five weeks later, we gathered to celebrate her home-going. So almost a year on, I am considering these biblical passages on life..

Psalm 90, a prayer of Moses, the man of God, includes this: "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty, yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (verses 10-12; ESV).

Who does not need wisdom?

James wrote these encouraging words: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5; ESV).

"Generously...without reproach."

Later in this letter, James expands on godly wisdom: "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3:13-18; ESV).

But wait, there is more.

We use wisdom in our planning. James has this to say, also: "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'--yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that'" (James 4:13-15; ESV).

So we pray as Moses that the Lord would teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom, while also saying what James commands, "if the Lord wills we will live and do this or that," trusting the Lord to make everything work together to His glory and our good.

Considering the Incarnate One

Isaiah describes Him as a man who was despised and rejected by men,
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,
As a man from whom others hid their faces (see Isaiah 53:3-4).

Yet He is the incarnate Son of God,
Holy, righteous, wise, just, merciful, and
All of the other qualities God has.

So, why would He have been so treated?
Despised, rejected, sorrowing, grieving,
If not both on our behalf and part of the learning
Scripture speaks of His going through:
That He grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man
Between the ages of 12 and 30 (see Luke 2:52).

And we have these amazing verses in Philippians 2:
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross" (verses 5-8; NAS).

And these in the opening chapter of Hebrews:
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (verses 1-3; NAS).

And this in the twelfth chapter of Hebrews:
"For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (verse 3; NAS).