Just Strangers Along the Way...

The Stranger within my gate,
He may be true or kind,
But he does not talk my talk–
I cannot feel his mind.
I see the face and the eyes and the mouth,
But not the soul behind.    - from "The Stranger" by Rudyard Kipling

1 Chronicles 29:15 tells us that, "We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope." There are a couple of good bits of information for us to take to heart within this verse.

First, is the fact that here, on this earth, we are but strangers and pilgrims passing through. This might be difficult to accept but this fact applies to everyone, not just individuals or groups of our own choosing. This includes you and I, too!

What we have seen going on around the world today is nothing new. One group has always persecuted another, mainly for their differences. We even see this happen time and time again between the pages of Scripture; and it continues today.

Secondly, the allusion to the brevity of our lives is quite clear. Our days here on earth pass swiftly, and then we are gone. Maybe the saddest part is that nothing is truly learned from our stay here. We mostly tend to be a worldly-minded lot that places more value on perishable wealth, than on each another (Matthew 6:19). 

Moses hit the nail on the head when he meditatively asked God, "So teach us to consider our mortality, so that we might live wisely" Psalm 90:12 (NET). We seriously need God's guidance because we cannot begin to change anything on our own. 

Probably the biggest obstacle standing in our way is understanding that nothing here is truly ours. Our land, water, food, even the air that we breathe does not belong to us. All belongs to God, who graciously allows us to use it while passing through on our pilgrimage, hopefully, to live with him.

It is our own ignorance that blinds us from seeing this. Every generation has its time like a passing breeze, a breath, a mist, and then it is gone (James 4:14; Psalm 78:39; Psalm 144:4). The one universal commonality that we actually possess, besides our physical makeup, is God.

Our yearning to discover our purpose for being here (who are we?; what are we doing here?; where are we going?) is the same in hearts around the world. Thankfully, the answers to these questions, and many more, have been lovingly provided for us in the Gospel; God's answer to our inquiries.

Scripture: Psalm 39:12; Job 14:2; Psalm 119:19; Ecclesiastes 6:12; Hebrews 2:10

Prayer: Dear Lord, Lord, when I am very much in need of tenderness and support, lead me to help someone in greater need than I, amen.

Blessings always,

Mitzi