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And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
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Today’s message
I want to provoke you to think. No one knows exactly when their life began, nor when their last breath will be. A mother discovers she is pregnant weeks later; some only realize it at two or five months. On the other side, even the doctor doesn't pin down the time on the certificate: he can inform the family, but he doesn't say '11:50 has already passed.' Life is an environment that God did not share with anyone about us. Therefore, stop valuing only those who have already left. Speak now: I love you, forgive me. Value while you breathe, because after the coffin, there is no conversation.
Hebrews 9:27 grounds me: life is one, without reincarnation. Psalm 90 nudges me: seventy, maybe eighty, and the rest is toil. And Luke 12:20 calls me to responsibility: one day they will ask for my soul, and I will return the life that God entrusted to me. So I ask with the psalmist: Lord, teach me to count my days that I may gain a wise heart. Being alive is not the same as living. Let's get to the point, because a unique, short, and fast life demands objective decisions.
seven recommendations
- Discover the power of wrong relationships; a Jonah in your boat makes you throw good cargo into the sea.
- Discover the value of your identity; those who do not know who they are become easy pawns.
- Avoid negative information; filter what you see and hear through Philippians 4:8.
- Give more importance to your life than to others; stop watching the speck in someone else's eye.
- Raise your children well; they are a heritage from the Lord and arrows, do not outsource your bow.
- Take good care of your parents; honor them, even if it is challenging, there will be no other opportunity.
Life is unique, life is short, and life is fast.
Let me tighten two screws: relationships and content. Psalm 1 warns about wrong advice, paths, and company; some people, if they enter, destroy. Ask: who sent you? And regarding the screen, be intentional: never say I will watch television; say I will watch a television program. If it doesn't pass the filter of what is true, just, pure, and of good reputation, discard it. Protect your mind, because weak identity and toxic information go hand in hand.
Now, application without beating around the bush: talk today with those you love; ask for forgiveness while there is still time. If there is a Jonah in the boat, identify and disembark that person from your life, family, or business. Prioritize your walk with God, not comparison with any neighbor. Parents, take up the bow; children are arrows. Honor father and mother, even with rough edges. And you, single, investigate character before exchanging rings. Unique, short, and fast life. Living well requires firm choices — and it starts now.
Did you know
- Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses, highlighting the brevity of life and the need for wisdom.
- Joppa, the port mentioned in the story of Jonah, is an ancient anchorage on the coast of Israel, now part of Tel Aviv-Jaffa.
- Hebrews 9:27 appears in the context of Christ's unique sacrifice, contrasting ritual repetition with the definitive work.
Key phrases
- No one knows when their life began or has any idea when their last day will be.
- Life is an environment that God did not share with anyone about us.
- Life is unique, life is short, and life is fast.
- You may be alive, but you may not be living.
Translated from the Portuguese original.
Seek
To seek today
Go deeper
Go deeper
When you discover who you are, nothing holds you back - Claudio Duarte
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