Our Daily Bread
Two calls
What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. — James 4:14
Novelist Bret Lott received two lifechanging calls on the same day. The first told him that one of his most promising writing students had died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. The second call came several hours later from a popular television talk show host telling Lott that she had chosen one of his novels for her monthly on-air book club. It would mean instant celebrity status and financial success. The first call was sobering, the second was exhilarating — and he had to try to balance the two.
Lott, a Christian, took a thick black marker and wrote his student’s name on a white index card and carried it for the next month. “I made a promise to myself,” he said. “I kept the index card in my pocket. It would remind me, ‘Don’t let this [fame] go to your head.’”
The book of James compares our life to “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (4:14). Instead of becoming enamored by our success today and our plans for tomorrow, we should remember that our time is in God’s hands and each day is a gift from Him.
One day, God will call us to be with Him. Knowing this should give us humility and perspective on every call that comes our way.— David C. McCasland
Preparing for eternity, Awaiting all things new, Anticipating life with Christ Should always be our view. — Sper
Read: James 4:13-17 To make the most of today, keep eternity in mind.