How do you view life? In the article last week, we discussed the three choices about life: the choice to just endure it, or to escape it, or to enjoy it. Without doubt, my choice is to enjoy life. Yes, it is often difficult, full of failures, and disappointments. Many things can and often do come our way which are very hard to understand. And there are no easy answers to our questions of “why.” In the midst of all those negatives, the choice to enjoy life is still by far the best. But enough of what I think. Let’s see what scripture says.
In the Apostle Peter’s first letter, he grabs our attention when he quotes from Psalms 34. He says it like this: “Let him who means to love life and see good days…” (3:10). That speaks to me. I certainly want to love life and see good days. What about you? Peter uses Psalms 34 to tell his readers there are some things we need to consider as follows:
• “Refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.” (3:10)
• “And let him turn away from evil and do good;”(3:11)
• Let him seek peace and pursue it.”(3:11)
Those exhortations call for proactive living. Am I controlling my tongue? Am I turning away from evil? Am I doing good? Can it be said that I am a person who is seeking peace to the point of pursuing it? And Peter gives us another reason why we should be trying to live this way. Let’s note verse 12:
• “For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.
• And His ears attend their prayer.”
So our God is looking and listening. I wonder, as He looks and listens across our world, is He pleased? I cannot answer for God or for the world. But I can answer for me and for where I live. Even at 80 years old, I still need to say I am a work in progress. As we bring these thoughts to a close, we yet hear Peter saying,
• “But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (3:12).
I do not want the Lord to be against me. We can fool others. We can fool ourselves. But we cannot fool God. If you need an attitude adjustment, now is the time for it. Let’s do our best to love life and be pleasing to our Heavenly Father. If you would like to talk, give me a call, 601 562-4226.
