Prayer – Lord Jesus, Your life was cut short—only 33 years. The average life expectance may have only been about 35 years during that first century AD, but now it is much longer now for people in Israel—your home on earth. It is almost 84 years. The length of life isn’t what matters so much as the quality of life—and You certainly gave all of Yourself to making life the best for those You encountered. Thank you for Your obedient example—and for helping so many people while You were here. Give us wisdom to understand and apply Your word.
My son do not forget my law, but let your heart keep
my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, write them on
the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God
and man. Proverbs 3:1-4 NKJV
Meditate. Consider how Jesus gave of Himself during His
life on earth.
How are you contributing to value of life with the life you
are living? The quality of life is what matters. Do you agree with that?
Moses encouraged the Israelites to obey God, then they’d
have a long life.
"Therefore, know
this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven
above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. You shall therefore keep His
statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well
with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days
in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time." Deuteronomy
4:39-40 NKJV
Rays of light from Heaven above.
Folly Beach near Charleston, SC.
As Solomon wrote about enjoying life—the good life that is
enjoyed by the obedient.
Here is what I have
seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of
all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which
God gives him; for it is his heritage. Ecclesiastes 5:18 NKJV
We can enjoy a good life—a long life—or at least one that
has a value, day by day, to inherit God’s blessing.
Finally, all of you
be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be
tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for
reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this,
that you may inherit a blessing. For He who would love life and see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let
him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the
eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil. (from Psalm 34:12-16)"
1 Peter 3:8-12 NKJV
Consider the possibility that the ultimate purpose of our
life is a spiritual one focused on God.
Therefore we do not
lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do
not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.
For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen
are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV
As Jesus taught His disciples…Seek first the Kingdom of
God and all His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Look daily for Jesus…and His
right way of living. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual one. Will seeking God’s
Kingdom give you a long life…or a good one? An eternal life that draws others
to Christ? The choice is yours.
Verse of Salvation ~ Let all those who seek You rejoice
and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, "The
LORD be magnified!" Psalm 40:16 NKJV
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless
otherwise noted.
New King James Version, ©
1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Harper
Collins Publisher. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
New Living Translation (NLT) copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by
Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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