February 22 - Redeeming Our Days

"Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom"
- Psalm 90:12.

Throughout the bible, God implores us to follow him, to follow him no matter what the cost, be it our money or even our life. Many things go into following Him, but the most important is keeping a correct perspective of the purpose and scope of our life. As those redeemed by the blood of the lamb, we know the purpose of our life is to glorify God-reflect His character. We also know that the scope of our life on earth is transitory, but an eternity with God awaits us in heaven. However, we, like Moses, struggle to keep the purpose and scope of our life focused on this truth. In light of this, Moses prays to God and asks Him for the ability to number his days, to comprehend the scope and in turn the purpose of his life. Paul, in Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5, echoes this prayer, imploring Christians to walk wisely by redeeming time.

To redeem something is to take ownership by paying the specified price. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross redeemed our life and set the ultimate example of how we are to redeem our time by sacrificing all. His sacrifice was God's will and His act of sacrifice was an act of service. Therefore, what we need to decide is what Joshua asked the nation of Israel in Joshua 24:15 to decide when he said, "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."

Suddenly, sacrificing all and serving God in everything is difficult, if not impossible for us sinners. However, our daily choices, made through the strength of the Lord, mark the path of serving Him and sacrificing all. Good and bad daily choices become good or bad habits and these habits become our character, which leads to proper or improper service to God. However, by daily focusing on how God first redeemed us we can learn how our days are numbered and purposed and therefore how to redeem each choice and each second of our life into His service. Redeeming our days goes beyond what we do with our thoughts, words, actions, or money-it is about redeeming everything. To redeem our days we must keep in mind the scope and purpose of our life and daily say as Joshua did, "as for me and my house we will serve the Lord."

- Brook Leonard