I recently read this confusing verse in the Bible: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Why would God value the death of those who walk most closely with him?

God certainly esteems those who finish well. As Paul wrote at the end of his life, The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

But does that make death precious?

Helpfully, another translation for the Hebrew word found here is grievous. The death of those he loves creates sadness for the Lord, which makes better sense to me.

But perhaps the answer lies in the combination of the two? On one hand, the death of anyone who follows the Lord brings pain and sadness. In the event of a good life cut short, agonizing questions follow. But on the other, God welcomes into glory those who have kept the faith. The death of his saints present as both grievous and precious.

And if those of us who follow Jesus also finish our lives having kept the faith, we can be assured of a precious welcome as well.

Psalm 116:15 & 2 Timothy 4:6-7

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge

Sociologists love to track generational differences. I recently read a study revealing that the current generation of young people in their teens and early 20’s may be the most conservative since World War 2, flipping the script on accepted theories. Those kids—always doing their own thing.

The nation of Israel experienced their own generational crisis of a far more serious nature:

Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years…and all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel…they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods…and they provoked the Lord to anger.

It’s shocking to realize that in a mere 25 years the people of Israel abandoned the God who destroyed the walls of Jericho and opened up the promised land. On hills granted to them by the Lord they now prayed to the false gods of a defeated land.

Who’s to say we’re any different?

Our faith in only one generation deep. There’s no guarantee anyone will choose to follow. We must teach the truth and lead our children and grandchildren in the ways of the Lord. Trust God and spread the word. Young people make their own decisions, but our influence guides them in the right direction.

Judges 2:6-15

Photo by Severin Höin

A handful of choices determine the trajectory of our lives. Will you marry? If so, to whom? Will you go to college? What career will you pursue? Should you take that job across the country or stay put?

In his final address, Joshua laid out a monumental choice for the people of Israel:

Fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness…if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

We inherit the same challenge. The most fateful decision you and I make is to whom or what we commit. Where do we bow the knee? Choose the Lord, or choose ourselves.

Like the people responded to Joshua, let’s decide to serve the Lord. Go all in. Get solid. Build our houses upon the rock. Here lies the narrow gate that opens to a flourishing future. One decision marks a life and creates a legacy.

Choose this day whom you will serve.

Joshua 24:14-28

Photo by Casey Horner

Jesus told of two men who went to the temple to pray. The first, a Pharisee (think highly trained religious leader), bowed his head and thanked God that he was more spiritual than other men. Now, I pay attention to how Pharisees acted, because I too am a religious leader, highly trained in theology and ministry. These guys are my tribe, as unfortunate as such may be.

The other man, a tax collector, stood in the back of the room with lowered eyes. He beat his chest with his fist and prayed, God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Which one received the mercy they needed? Jesus tells us the tax collector went home in good standing with God. The Pharisee sauntered over to his buddies, still lost as a goose.

Appeals for mercy (compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm) pervade the Scriptures. We all need the compassion of the Lord on a daily basis. Although followers of Jesus can rest in his salvation, we remain sinful creatures. God’s mercies never go out of style.

The tax collector’s prayer points me towards my need for God’s overwhelming mercy, as well as pricking me about my inclination to look down on others from my perch of exalted religiosity.

So I’m trying to create a habit, to remember to pray this prayer throughout the day: God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Perhaps you’d like to join me?

Luke 18:9-14

Photo by Amaury Gutierrez