Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 90:9 – 17 (KJV):
Psa 90:9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
Psa 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Psa 90:11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
Psa 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psa 90:13 Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.
Psa 90:14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Psa 90:15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Psa 90:16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
Psa 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
New Testament Scripture: 1Tim 4:9 – 16 (KJV)
1Ti 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
1Ti 4:11 These things command and teach.
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) Moses admonishes us to have a realistic evaluation about how we walk, knowing that time elapses quicker than it seems, and that our perception of the passing of time is also affected by our fallen nature, although we can see that God is patient and merciful toward us and therefore, we request that He teach us His wisdom to regulate our ways of thinking about everything in life.
2) Although Paul writes this letter to Timothy, who he has nurtured to be a minister to the church, all members of the church can benefit from the basic principles that the entire atmosphere of everything that we must be dealing with is based entirely on the word of God, in that we are to READ the WORD, EXPLAIN (understand) the WORD, and APPLY the WORD at all times, and that if we are doing this, there shall be noticeable FRUIT at regular intervals.
3) The passing of another year is always a great thing as we reflect on all that we have been through and make preparation for moving forward in FAITH, knowing that God our Father through His SON JESUS our LORD and SAVIOR, shall continue to prosper those who love Him, so therefore, we can PRESS ON full speed ahead into a new year!