The insistent voice of the Holy Spirit reminds mortal man frequently in the Scriptures of the brevity of his life. By the repeated use of similes, the Spirit of the Lord impresses on us that our days are limited and passing swiftly.For instance, He likens life to a weaver's shuttle (Job 7:6), the device that darts back and forth in the loom almost faster than the eye can follow.Job speaks of life as wind (Job 7:7), here one minute and gone the next, never to return. The psalmist echoes the sentiment, speaking of "a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again" (Psalms 78:39).Bildad unnecessarily reminds Job that "our days on earth are a shadow" (Job 8:9), a picture that is repeated in Psalms 102:11, "My days are like a shadow that declineth." A shadow is ephemeral - lasting a very short time.Job compares his life to a leaf (Job 13:25), fragile, frail and fading; and to dry stubble, driven away by the winds. Isaiah appeals to the Lord's pity by reminding Him that "we all do fade as a leaf" (Isaiah 64:6).David describes his days as a handbreadth (Psalms 39:5), as narrow as the width of his hand. Viewing life as a journey, it would be about four inches long.Moses, the man of God, depicts life as a sleep (Psalms 90:5), in which time passes without our being conscious of it.In the same place, Moses speaks of people and their lives as grass: "In the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and withereth" (Psalms 90:5-6). Centuries later David used the same figure in describing our transiency: "As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more" (Psalms 103:15-16). As Spurgeon said, the grass is "sown, grown, blown, mown, gone." And that is life in a nutshell!Finally James adds his testimony that life is as evanescent as vapor (James 4:14). It appears for a brief moment, then vanishes away.This accumulation of similes is designed to do two things. First, it should motivate the unconverted to consider the shortness of time and the importance of being ready to meet God. Second it should cause believers to number their days so that they might apply their hearts to wisdom (Psalms 90:12). This will result in lives or devotion and dedication to Christ, in lives that are lived for eternity.

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14)

Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good. They pass by like swift ships, like an eagle swooping on its prey. § You carry them away like a flood; they are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: in the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers. § Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away. The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. § They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end. § Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 What is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 

All the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died. Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. § For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. § The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. § When they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

Evening Daily Light

 The form of this world is passing away. 

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.<cr>1</cr>

James 4:14

Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,<cr>1</cr> we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:15

 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.   15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,   we will live and do this or that.”

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,  we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:14-15

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.   Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,   we will live and do this or that.”

Bible Verse of the Day

April 21, 2025

James 4:14-15 NIV

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