A Life That Counts

Here's what I'm pondering today.......How do I make my life count?  With that question in mind, let's focus today on Psalm 119:37 - "Turn my eyes away from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways."  In this verse the psalmist is praying that God will turn his eyes away from looking at vanity, which can be defined as anything that is empty or worthless. This can be the things in our lives that are not necessarily "bad" but which really add no value to us or to others. Why does this matter to the psalmist?  Why should it matter to us?  How can turning away from vanity help us align more with God's Word?  Let's dig into those questions today.

As we consider the culture in which we live, I'm sure we can agree that there are many things that fit this definition of vanity......not bad in and of themselves, but yet adding no value to our lives.  Is there an "antidote" to focusing on/looking at/chasing after vanity?  Consider Philippians 4:8.  What should we be focusing our thoughts on?

Let's go a step further.  Read Hebrews 11:1-12:3.  What did all these people have in common?  What characterized their lives?  Were they "looking at vanity"?  Once you have read the passage, consider the following questions:

• What were the people in Hebrews 11 looking for?
• Based on their example, according to Hebrews 12 where are we to be looking?
• What difference would it make in our lives to be focused, to have our eyes "fixed" in the right direction?
• What encumbrances do we need to throw off?  When considering this question, keep in mind that the passage tells us to lay aside, to throw off encumbrances and sin.  The word "encumbrances" could be referring to those things which are not necessarily bad in and of themselves, but which weigh us down or make us ineffective.  In his sermon last Sunday, our pastor referred to WMDs - Weapons of Mass Distraction.  Are you dealing with any WMDs?  I know I am!

Finally today, review the benefits we have discovered so far in Psalm 119 that God's Word provides, the claims the Word makes about itself.  How would our lives look different today if we committed to at least one of those benefits?  Something to think about.......

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  (Hebrews 12:1-2)