Life is short and time is precious

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Savor the moment”

Our Bible verse for today: “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Life is short and time is precious”

My wife, Aimee, lost her late husband Tim to a sudden heart attack. He died on the side of the road in front of their house while walking the dogs. My daughter Tracy died from cancer. From the time she was diagnosed until the morning she died in my home was only one week. My wife Linda died from COVID only three days after she was diagnosed with it. My son Rick died suddenly from a heart attack.

Many of you reading this have also experienced the sudden loss of loved ones. Over my decades of ministry as a pastor, I have performed more funerals than I can remember. The truth is that life is short and death is certain. There’s a thin line between life and death and one day, we will all die. Maybe sooner than we think.

That’s what James was referring to in James 4:14. Death can come at any time. Life is fragile, unpredictable, sometimes short, and it often ends abruptly. Therefore, we must savor, guard, and cherish the time that we have. Time is precious and shouldn’t be wasted. That’s why one of my favorite sayings about time, and one which I often think about, write about, and use in my preaching and teaching, is the one from Benjamin Franklin which, when rephrased in contemporary language says, “Do you value your life? Then value your time. Because time is the stuff that life is made of.”

Too many of us waste our time; or we rush through our lives allowing ourselves to be so busy that we don’t really enjoy it; or we don’t give our time to the people and things which are most important. The older I get the more I appreciate and value my time.

All this month I would like to explore with you the idea of slowing down, focusing on the people and events that matter the most, and truly savoring this gift of life the Lord has given us. Let’s learn together how to truly savor our time. For today, let’s remember life is short and time is precious.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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