“⁶My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle and come to their end without hope. ⁷Remember that my life is a breath;” – Job 7:6-7 (ESV)

I forget that as long as my life is (in number of years) it is short when you think about God. The Grand Canyon was carved over millions of years, Christ was born over 2000 years ago, and the United States was born in 1776. My current 47 years of life is extremely short comparatively.

When we are looking at our lives, we should remember that they are short. When we are short on time, we focus on getting as much done as possible in that time so as not to “miss the deadline”.

And where is our focus? Well shouldn’t it be on completing the tasks set before us by God? Shouldn’t we prioritize our task list to have God’s at the top?

We are not going to be on this earth for very long (compared to the earth’s existence) and therefore we should be doing the work of God at every turn. We have an obligation to do God’s work first. Once we have completed the work of God we can get to those items that are on our list, although I suspect that some, if not all of them will fall off of the list entirely thanks to the gifts God will bestow on each of us for completing His work.

Knowing that our lives are short on this earth, are you focused on God? Are your priorities set so God’s work is done first? What if you did?

As I study this morning, I am reminded that we are always given a choice of life with God as opposed to being forced.

“¹⁹I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, ²⁰loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” – Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV)

The choice is ours. Life or death. Life in Christ, or death in the world.

God certainly wants each of us to choose Him and life, however He will not force Himself upon us. If we are not willing to choose Him, then we do not receive Him.

Think of our actions as Christians. I know that I have witnessed “ministry” that seems to “force” itself on those around them. I am pretty sure that this is not the approach that God wants for us. We are to present the Gospel and allow the Holy Spirit to work. Just like we have a choice, those around us have a choice as well. We are tasked with bringing them the good news, however it us up to them to choose life or death through Christ.

When you are witnessing to others, what is your approach? Are you one that is looking to force your beliefs on others, or one that allows the Holy Spirit to work? Are you approaching life with Christ as a choice?

“¹⁸Whoever takes and animal’s life shall make if good, life for life. ¹⁹If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, ²⁰fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.” – Leviticus 24:18-20 (ESV)

This was certainly not what I expected to study this morning. But, a great way to start the week, thinking about accountability and value.

We have a responsibility to be the example of Christ each and every day in each and every situation. We act with love and care, but when we do not, we are responsible to answer for our actions. Just saying “sorry” does not absolve us of our actions. Our accountability should fit our actions, and this is what is being referred to in the verses above.

We have to look past the letter and look to the intent. The punishment should fit the crime or the retribution should equal the discretion. If we find ourselves in a position where we are on the wrong side of a discretion, we should expect to “pay the piper” for those actions accordingly.

When we are looking at the actions and consequences of those actions, it is our responsibility to seek guidance to be sure that we are holding responsible at the right level, “eye for eye and tooth for tooth”. We should be looking to God for that guidance and direction. Likewise we should be seeking to be held accountable for our actions. We should be looking to God to be sure that our actions are in line with obedience to Him.

Has there been a situation where you have “over punished”? Have you been “under punished” and walked away as though you got away with one? Are you seeking equal accountability for your actions?

“¹⁰If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who east blood and will cut him off from among his people. ¹¹For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” – Leviticus 17:10-11 (ESV)

We are to take care when taking the flesh. In the Old Testament the blood was spilled on an alter as atonement sacrifice for sin. The sacrifice was sacred and so was the blood. That blood was off limits for consumption.

As I study this morning I am looking into today, and how we look at that same practice. I look to this passage and remember that Jesus sacrificed himself for us as his blood was spilt. We have the Lord’s Supper or Communion where we remember the blood of Jesus and His sacrifice for us.

I have to also consider also the blood of the animals that provide our physical sustenance as well. Whether that which we get from the grocer or that which we get from the wild. When that animal is prepared, the blood is removed and we are not to consume it. Hunters and butchers go through a process of removing the blood of the animal prior to preparing it for consumption.

Whereas it may seem a bit much, I have to think about the life of the animal and be thankful for this animal being so that I could have something to eat.

We may should be looking at life differently each day as we sit down to dinner. I know that I am thankful for the blood spilled by Jesus for my life, and I should be thankful for the food of the animals.

Are you thankful for the life of all? What about the animals you are consuming? And the life and sacrifice of Jesus? When was the last time you truly looked at life?

There are laws of God and laws of the land and in my study of God’s Word, when we are within the laws of God, we will naturally be within the laws of the land. Example, the Ten Commandments.

Here are a few of them that everyone should know:

“¹³You shall not murder. ¹⁴You shall commit adultery. ¹⁵You shall not steal.” – Exodus 20:13-15 (ESV)

As the example, God’s Law is not to murder, commit adultery, or steal. It is not a coincidence that the law of the land is the same.

When we are committed to obeying the laws of God, we will naturally fall in line with the law of the land.

“²⁰When a man strikes his slave, male or female with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged…²²When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. ²³But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life,” – Exodus 21:20, 22-23 (ESV)

God’s Word is clear with how we are accountable for life of human beings. Whether from the Ten Commandments, or other passages. We are responsible for caring for the lives of others and when we are not caring for those, we are held to being accountable for our failure.

When you look at the law, which are you looking at first, God’s or the land? When you think of others, are you valuing the care we are to place on them? Is your look at life Godly?

When we look at life, we have to consider the value of that life.

“⁵And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.” – Genesis 9:5 (ESV)

We are made in the image of God. We have the ability to think and reason which set us apart from other animals of the earth. This gives us higher value to God and therefore if our lives are taken, there is accountability for that action and should be carried out justly and with great care.

“³Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.” – Genesis 9:3 (ESV)

There is also the life of the animals of the earth. God has provided them for us as food and therefore we are to treat them as such. It is okay for us to consume the animals of the earth, however we are to do so, and revere it so as a gift from God.

When we look at life, we should be considering the value of that life, whether our fellow human beings or the animals of the earth. When we do so, we are gaining further insight into the heart of God. And that insight proves valuable in the life we lead.

When you think of another, what value are you placing on them? Animals? Fellow man? Are you considering how precious they are?

We are human and God has given us free will. That free will is a gift and has been given to allow for our living of life our way. I am a firm believer that even though I have free will to do what I please, there are consequences to all of my actions or inaction.

Adam and Eve were created by God to take care of the Garden and have fellowship with and glorify Him. They were free to use the Garden for themselves with the exception of not being able to eat from two trees. When they chose to eat from the tree of good and evil they were found out and therefore were accountable to their actions.

“²⁴He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” – Genesis 3:24 (ESV)

The consequences of the actions of Adam and Eve were banishment from the Garden.

We have been given the free will to live our lives as we see fit to glorify God. Adam and Eve were given the task of caring for the Garden similar to our tasks as we care for this earth and those in it for God. We are able to complete those tasks how we see, but we must remember that we are accountable to God for our actions and choices.

What choices have you made that you were wondering why you did not prosper more? What actions have you taken that you are frustrated with the outcome? Are you living your life as though there are no consequences to your actions or inaction?

“⁷then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” – Genesis 2:7 (ESV)

Your mother gave birth to you, God gave you life. “the man became a living creature” at the breath of life from God.

Shouldn’t we be joyful that we were created by God? Shouldn’t we be grateful to our creator? Shouldn’t we recognize that without Him, we would be nothing?

Are you joyful to your creator? Are you grateful to your creator? Will you recognize that your life is God given?

I remember as a kid telling lies and being on pins and needles wondering if anyone would find out the lie and what kind of trouble I would get in.

“⁹Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” – Proverbs 10:9 (ESV)

 “³The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” – Proverbs 11:3 (ESV)

What a position to be in of one that destroys us. When we are constantly looking over our shoulder, how can we be looking forward for growth and learning?

I wonder how different my childhood would have been had some of those “little white lies” had not been told. Would I have been able to just keep playing and be able to focus on the tasks at hand and not worry about if someone would find out my indiscretion?

When we are in the world today, we are challenged to “fit in” and “get ahead”, and in doing so we may compromise our integrity in the process.

It is important that we stay true to our integrity so as to be able to truly “get ahead”. When we are steady with our integrity we can focus on what is next and not spend so much time worrying or looking over our shoulder wondering if we will be found out. When there is nothing to concern ourselves with from the past, we are secure to move forward.

Are there things that you are looking over your shoulder about? How much more could you accomplish without those distractions of looking backward? Going forward, are you willing to increase your integrity and provide that security for yourself?

“⁶I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.” – Psalm 101:6 (ESV)

David is declaring his value of integrity here. He states that only those that are of integrity will have his, “dwell with me”, and be his counsel, “minister to me”.

What an impactful way of going about things, only having those of integrity around you. I have found myself seeking to grow in a lot of areas and in that search I have been looking for great men and women to emulate and learn from. What if I search of men and women of integrity who are blameless instead of looking for outwardly “great” people? Shouldn’t I be looking inward as opposed to outward?

David make another declaration in verses 2 and 3 that go along here.

“²I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my own house; ³I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.” – Psalm 101:2-3 (ESV)

Be blameless yourself in your own world and those that are around you that are not of the same heart, do not have them as a part of your counsel.

I know that I placed these verses here in reverse order (6 then 2&3), and when I study values and missions, there is usually statements and philosophies of, first you then around you. Whereas I do agree that you have to have yourself in order before you can get to the outside, learning what to surround yourself with is an important step to growth and maintaining. Those that are around you will be able to supply the support you need to continue down the path.

Are you seeking to walk blameless? Who are around you that you can observe and learn from? Are you surrounding yourself with those that are blameless?