Saturday, 20th June 2020
Title: Teach Us To Number Our Days
by Pastor Soong Kok Kee
Psalm 90: 10, 12 (NIV)
10: The length of our days is seventy or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
12: Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
There is a Chinese proverb which says: I still remember playing with bamboo horses as though it was yesterday, but now my hair have all gone white with age!
Indeed time and tide wait for no man. When I was young, time seems to move so slowly, but now that I am 76, I wish time would move slower or, better still, do not move at all! According to the life span of Malaysian men, I am already living on bonus years.
No wonder Moses, the writer of Psalm 90 says our days is seventy or eighty, if we have the strength. Time just creeps up on us without us even realising it. Some years ago, I was lining up to buy some stuff when the shopkeeper asked “Uncle, what do you want?”. In front of me, were people younger than me and as I looked behind to find out who that “Uncle” was, there were no one older than me behind me. It was quite to shock to be called “Uncle” for the first time! The only good thing I found out being an “Uncle” at this recent MCO is I do not need to line up going into Tesco or the wet market.
Yes, in life, no matter how long we live, there will always be trouble and sorrow, but not entirely though, by the grace of God, there will also be lots of joy, blessing and happiness too. But one thing is sure, they will quickly pass, and we will fly away. The hymn “This World is not my Home” comes to mind:
“This world is not my home, I’m just a passing thru, My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue; The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door.
“And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore. O Lord, you know I have no friend like you, If heaven’s not my home O Lord what will I do; The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door.”
None of us know when our departure will be as our life is in God’s hands and thus Moses’ wise prayer to our Lord is Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. John Wesley had said, we should live every day of our lives as though it’s our last day. Here are two things we can do as we number our days to gain a heart of wisdom.
1) Make sure all our family members have come to know the Lord – our spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, relatives and friends. Pray for them and make every effort for them to hear the gospel, that’s our responsibility. Having done that, we will then leave the rest to God as they alone are responsible for their decision to accept Jesus or not.
2) Then use all the resources that God has bless us with to bless as many people as possible, living out what our Lord personally taught Paul in Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive”. Pray to God to make us a blessing.
“I expect to pass thru this world but once.
Any good thing, therefore, that I can do,
or any kindness that I can show a fellow being,
Let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it,
For I shall not pass this way again.” (by Stephen Grellet)
Leave a legacy before we leave this world, a legacy of love, kindness and giving, then we would not have lived in vain. Paul taught this to Timothy in 2 Tim 2:2 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
The passing of the baton to four generations! What a privilege! What a responsibility! Then and only then we can truly say like Paul when we come into the presence of our Lord. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. (2 Tim 4:7)
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for reminding us how quickly our lives fly by. Help us to make the best use of whatever resources you have blessed us with to bless as many people as possible as long as we live. We want to commit all our family members and loved ones who have not come to know you as Lord and Saviour into your hands. Help us to have the wisdom and boldness to share with them your salvation and blessings. Keep all of us safe and healthy so that we will have long life and good health to serve you for the rest of our lives. In Jesus Name we pray AMEN.
每日灵粮
星期六 2020年6月20日
标题：教我们数算自己的日子
作者：宋国基牧师
翻译：梁玉萍姐妹
诗篇90：10 & 12
我们一生的年日是七十岁，如果强壮，可到八十岁，但其中可夸耀的，不过是劳苦愁烦；我们的年日转眼即逝，我们也如飞而去了。求你指教我们怎样数算自己的日子，好叫我们得着智慧的心。
有句中文谚语：记得少年骑竹马，看看又是白头翁！的确，时间和潮流不等人。当我年轻的时候，时间似乎太慢，但现在我已经76岁了，我希望时间会慢一点，或者，更好的是，不要流逝！根据马来西亚男人的寿命统计，我已算是超越平均的寿限。
难怪诗篇90的作者摩西说，如果我们强壮的话，我们的年日是七十或八十岁。时间不知不觉、不声不响地湊上來。几年前，当我正排队买一些东西时，店主问，“伯伯，你想要什么？”排在我身前的比我年轻，而当我往后看看到底谁是店主口中的’伯伯’时，我发现身后没有比我年长的人。 第一次被称为’伯伯’真是令人震惊！我发现，在最近的行动管制令期间，对我唯一的好处就是我不需要排队进入特易购/乐购或湿市场。
是的，在生活中，无论我们活多久，总会有麻烦和悲伤。不过，不完全是这样。在上帝的恩典中，也会有很多的喜乐、祝福和幸福。不过，有一件事是肯定的，我们的年日转眼即逝，我们也如飞而去。赞美诗《这个世界不是我的家》浮现在脑海：
“这世界非我家，我不过是客旅，我所珍爱财宝，远藏高天深处；天门为我大开，天使为我来迎。”
“哦，主，你知我无良友像你，天堂若非我家，主阿，我将何依？天门为我大开，天使为我来迎.”
我们谁都不知道我们何时会离开，因为我们的生命掌握在上帝的手中。因此，摩西对主明智的祷告是教导我们怎样数算自己的日子，好使我们得着智慧的心。 约翰·卫斯理（John Wesley）曾说过，我们应该每天都活得像是我们的最后一天。当我们数算自己的日子，得着智慧的心时，我们可以做以下的两件事：
- 确保我们的所有家庭成员都认识主―我们的配偶、孩子、孙子、曾孙、兄弟姐妹、亲戚和朋友。我们的责任是为他们祷告并尽一切努力让他们听到福音。 这样做之后，我们把其余的交托给上帝，因为他们需自己决定是否要接受耶稣。
- 然后，尽量地使用上帝所赐给我们所有的资源来祝福更多的人，使我们活出主藉着使徒行传20:35中所教导保罗的：“施比受更为有福”。 求上帝使我们能成为别人的祝福。
“我路过人间就这么一次。 因此，我可以做的任何善事或可以向任何人展示的任何善意，就让我立即去做。 我不要推迟或忽视它，因为我只活这么一次。”― 斯蒂芬·格莱莱特
让我们在离世前留下遗产，一份爱、良善和乐于奉献的遗产，那么我们就不会徒劳地活着。 保罗在提摩太后书2：2 说：“又应当把你在许多见证人面前从我这里听见的，交托给那些又忠心又能够教导别人的人。”
接力棒传给了四代人！ 真是荣幸！ 多大的责任！ 然后，只有到了我们与主同在的时候，我们才能真正像保罗一样说。 “那美好的仗我已经打过了，当跑的路我已经跑尽了，所持的信仰我已经守住了”。 （提后4：7）
祷告：亲爱的主，谢谢你提醒我们，我们的生命如飞而去。 帮助我们充分使用你所赐予我们的一切资源，在我们有生之年，尽可能地祝福许多人。 我们希望将所有尚未认识你是他们的上帝和救主的家人和亲人交在你手中。 帮助我们拥有智慧和勇气与他们分享你的救赎和祝福。 保守我们所有人安全和健康，使我们长寿和有健康的身体，一生服侍你。 我们奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。