“…He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11b).
With every death comes a sense of tragedy. There is something that seems unjust, out of place about death. It’s amazing how life can be filled with such joy but in a moment be taken by death. I guess one of the many reasons that death seems so unjust is that it brings a sense of incompleteness. Solomon reminds his reader of the injustice, the incompleteness of death. Man was made for eternity. From the very beginning, before the entrance of sin, there was no death. Man was made for eternity. But, what would life without end be if it were spent seeking personal fulfillment. Solomon addresses this as well, the things that people do to bring fulfillment only cause us to long for it more. In all of the incompleteness brought by life it does us well to remember that Jesus died to take one Himself the injustice of death, to take on Himself the disease of sin and give everlasting life freely. We do well to remember that is in Christ that we find our life complete. The eternity written on the hearts of men finds its rest in Jesus.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
As Instruments of Blessing
“…a time to keep silence and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:7b).
The issue of speech has been a reoccurring theme to which the Lord has led me as of late. Speech is a reoccurring theme throughout Scripture. We all speak when we should be silent. James wrote, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2b). As small as the tongue is that it has amazing potential, it can be as instrument of cursing or an instrument of praise. An evidence of the Holy Spirit’s leading in the life of those who follow Christ is their speech. As we submit our tongues as instruments of the Holy Spirit we will speak truth which at times may be difficult but is always right when done in love ( Ephesians 4:15). Remember with speech we can either curse others which diseases our own soul or speak truth which can bring encouragement and freedom.
Finally, as pointed out by Solomon in Ecclesiastes, there is a time for silence. Not everything that could be said should be said. As God’s Word goes forth, God the Holy Spirit works change in hearts. Yes, you may motivate change by guilt but true lasting change comes by the Holy Spirit.
Today, many opportunities will be presented, choose today to use your speech as an instrument of blessing and not cursing. Try today to exercise the discipline of restraint and practice silence and rest in the changing power of God.
The issue of speech has been a reoccurring theme to which the Lord has led me as of late. Speech is a reoccurring theme throughout Scripture. We all speak when we should be silent. James wrote, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2b). As small as the tongue is that it has amazing potential, it can be as instrument of cursing or an instrument of praise. An evidence of the Holy Spirit’s leading in the life of those who follow Christ is their speech. As we submit our tongues as instruments of the Holy Spirit we will speak truth which at times may be difficult but is always right when done in love ( Ephesians 4:15). Remember with speech we can either curse others which diseases our own soul or speak truth which can bring encouragement and freedom.
Finally, as pointed out by Solomon in Ecclesiastes, there is a time for silence. Not everything that could be said should be said. As God’s Word goes forth, God the Holy Spirit works change in hearts. Yes, you may motivate change by guilt but true lasting change comes by the Holy Spirit.
Today, many opportunities will be presented, choose today to use your speech as an instrument of blessing and not cursing. Try today to exercise the discipline of restraint and practice silence and rest in the changing power of God.
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Story of Significance
“As it happened to the fool, it also happened to me… How does a wise man die? As the fool!” (Ecclesiastes 2:15a & 16b).
Value, worth, significance in life doesn’t come from what men do or accomplish. Those who are perceived in this life to be of great worth have the same end as the perceived worthless, the grave, death. In this all, mere men have no ability to add significance to life but that significance comes from being created by God in His image. Again, like so many times before the story returns to Him. The story of men isn’t the story of men at all but the story of God. From creation men are made by God in His image, man’s significance comes from God. Sin enters and again the story is of God’s redemption not recompense. The story of man is not of what man does but what has been done for him. The story of man again leads to man’s insignificance apart from the significance given to him by God. In all of Solomon’s gladness and joy, and all of Solomon’s achieved wisdom his conclusion was the same on its own, the grave. And that is why the story of man centered on himself is a story of frivolity, and insignificance a story that ends in the grave. But the story of man centered on God, centered on Jesus Christ is the story of great worth it is a story that never ends.
Value, worth, significance in life doesn’t come from what men do or accomplish. Those who are perceived in this life to be of great worth have the same end as the perceived worthless, the grave, death. In this all, mere men have no ability to add significance to life but that significance comes from being created by God in His image. Again, like so many times before the story returns to Him. The story of men isn’t the story of men at all but the story of God. From creation men are made by God in His image, man’s significance comes from God. Sin enters and again the story is of God’s redemption not recompense. The story of man is not of what man does but what has been done for him. The story of man again leads to man’s insignificance apart from the significance given to him by God. In all of Solomon’s gladness and joy, and all of Solomon’s achieved wisdom his conclusion was the same on its own, the grave. And that is why the story of man centered on himself is a story of frivolity, and insignificance a story that ends in the grave. But the story of man centered on God, centered on Jesus Christ is the story of great worth it is a story that never ends.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Like Grasping at Wind
“And I said my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. A perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 1:17
Solomon wrote what could be a deeply depressing book if the reader doesn’t understand his point. Getting straight at it Solomon wrote, “Vanity of vanities all is vanity” (vs. 2b). Mincing no words, Solomon reminds his readers that all things of the world without a higher point or purpose are futile, pointless. Life does appear to be a pointless circle of comings and goings of generation after generation with each generation perceiving itself to be more clever than the previous. Solomon soberly reminds the reader, “Is there anything of which it may be said, “see, this is new?” It is already been an ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come by those who come after.” (vs. 10-11). Each generation is fooled by the deceptiveness of his own devices, by his own cleverness. But, Solomon even addresses the perceived cleverness of man. Writing with an uncommon grit, not in such a way as to protect his own reputation but using it using his personal experience is evidence for his conclusions. Even in being the cleverest, most wise of his day he finds futility, “… like grasping at wind.” (vs. 17). He is not concluding that ignorance is bliss. Neither is he concluding that wisdom, was meant for bless. He makes it clear that the things of this world were not meant for our abiding bliss, for lasting joy but to lead to only One who can give us real joy. The things of this world, the endeavors of this world and even to perceive the joys of this world were meant to be fleeting, they were never meant to give us the everlasting joy for which we long. The emptiness of this world directs our hearts to the only One who can give us everlasting joy, a joy that only Jesus Christ can bring.
Solomon wrote what could be a deeply depressing book if the reader doesn’t understand his point. Getting straight at it Solomon wrote, “Vanity of vanities all is vanity” (vs. 2b). Mincing no words, Solomon reminds his readers that all things of the world without a higher point or purpose are futile, pointless. Life does appear to be a pointless circle of comings and goings of generation after generation with each generation perceiving itself to be more clever than the previous. Solomon soberly reminds the reader, “Is there anything of which it may be said, “see, this is new?” It is already been an ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come by those who come after.” (vs. 10-11). Each generation is fooled by the deceptiveness of his own devices, by his own cleverness. But, Solomon even addresses the perceived cleverness of man. Writing with an uncommon grit, not in such a way as to protect his own reputation but using it using his personal experience is evidence for his conclusions. Even in being the cleverest, most wise of his day he finds futility, “… like grasping at wind.” (vs. 17). He is not concluding that ignorance is bliss. Neither is he concluding that wisdom, was meant for bless. He makes it clear that the things of this world were not meant for our abiding bliss, for lasting joy but to lead to only One who can give us real joy. The things of this world, the endeavors of this world and even to perceive the joys of this world were meant to be fleeting, they were never meant to give us the everlasting joy for which we long. The emptiness of this world directs our hearts to the only One who can give us everlasting joy, a joy that only Jesus Christ can bring.
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Reminder of Focused Praise
“Praise the LORD! Praise God to his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him according to his excellent greatness!” - Psalm 150:1-2
The psalmist opens the final praise of the Psalter with instructions, “Praise the LORD!” (150:1a). The reader has been instructed to praise the God of all creation but then the psalmist concludes this capstone of the Psalms with a reminder of man’s created calling “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD .” (vs. 6a). Man has been created with instinct to praise. Most often man’s instinct of praise is focused on the wrong things, because of the abiding grip of sin in our life. We love to praise ourselves, our praise does not have to come in words but in thoughts, and deed. All of mankind requires the admonishment not only to praise the LORD but also the reminder that the One he praises is the LORD, the One who’s created all things. It is fitting then how the psalmist ends with a reminder that as created beings it is our highest calling and created purpose to exalt our Creator. Praise the LORD!
The psalmist opens the final praise of the Psalter with instructions, “Praise the LORD!” (150:1a). The reader has been instructed to praise the God of all creation but then the psalmist concludes this capstone of the Psalms with a reminder of man’s created calling “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD .” (vs. 6a). Man has been created with instinct to praise. Most often man’s instinct of praise is focused on the wrong things, because of the abiding grip of sin in our life. We love to praise ourselves, our praise does not have to come in words but in thoughts, and deed. All of mankind requires the admonishment not only to praise the LORD but also the reminder that the One he praises is the LORD, the One who’s created all things. It is fitting then how the psalmist ends with a reminder that as created beings it is our highest calling and created purpose to exalt our Creator. Praise the LORD!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
This Ain’t All Folks
“For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.” (Psalm 149:4).
This is a Psalm of praise from God’s people toward Him for salvation and justice. The Hebrew people suffered for many years under various kinds of oppressors but they remembered the promise of God to “… He will beautify the humble with salvation.,” or as one translation puts it, “deliver the oppressed.”
This is the point that many missed in Jesus. He did come to deliver His people; first from their sin and only a later time from the injustice of this world. This brings us to two very important keys: First, we become His people, not by lineage but by faith. Are you His? We become His when we receive the forgiveness of our sins as a gift because of the payment that Jesus made on Calvary’s cross. Second, every injustice, every sick or hungry child, every evil dictator reminds us that the Lord will deliver the oppressed, that Jesus is coming again. Face every injustice with the assurance that Jesus is coming again!
This is a Psalm of praise from God’s people toward Him for salvation and justice. The Hebrew people suffered for many years under various kinds of oppressors but they remembered the promise of God to “… He will beautify the humble with salvation.,” or as one translation puts it, “deliver the oppressed.”
This is the point that many missed in Jesus. He did come to deliver His people; first from their sin and only a later time from the injustice of this world. This brings us to two very important keys: First, we become His people, not by lineage but by faith. Are you His? We become His when we receive the forgiveness of our sins as a gift because of the payment that Jesus made on Calvary’s cross. Second, every injustice, every sick or hungry child, every evil dictator reminds us that the Lord will deliver the oppressed, that Jesus is coming again. Face every injustice with the assurance that Jesus is coming again!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
All of Creation was Made to Praise the Lord
All of creation was made to praise the LORD!
“Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. 6He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away.” (Psalm 148:5-6).
These verses explain why creation has the singular purpose to exalt or praise the LORD. Simply put, all of creation was made to praise the one who created. “… For He commanded and they were created.” (vs. 5b). This is not belittling, it’s just the facts God created all things by His command.
Not only were all things brought into being to exalt Him, “He made a decree which shall not pass away.” (vs. 6b). His decree remains in the face of corrupt creation. Though creation has been deeply marred by sin the decree of God remains, exalt Him!
God has created us and we were made for His glory, for His exaltation. This almost sounds as if God were egotistical but, He would only be egotistical if there is something more glorious and a more worthy of our attention and praise than Him. But, if God is the highest most glorious being then He is worthy of the praise of all things. Not only of God is the highest the most glory as being is He worthy of the praise of all things but He is the highest calling of all things to praise Him if this is His being. There is also a tremendous amount of encouragement here, that not only have all created things been called to their highest calling of exulting Him but, it also demonstrates that the decree of God is greater the scares of sin.
How are you carrying out your highest calling by exulting him today?
“Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. 6He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away.” (Psalm 148:5-6).
These verses explain why creation has the singular purpose to exalt or praise the LORD. Simply put, all of creation was made to praise the one who created. “… For He commanded and they were created.” (vs. 5b). This is not belittling, it’s just the facts God created all things by His command.
Not only were all things brought into being to exalt Him, “He made a decree which shall not pass away.” (vs. 6b). His decree remains in the face of corrupt creation. Though creation has been deeply marred by sin the decree of God remains, exalt Him!
God has created us and we were made for His glory, for His exaltation. This almost sounds as if God were egotistical but, He would only be egotistical if there is something more glorious and a more worthy of our attention and praise than Him. But, if God is the highest most glorious being then He is worthy of the praise of all things. Not only of God is the highest the most glory as being is He worthy of the praise of all things but He is the highest calling of all things to praise Him if this is His being. There is also a tremendous amount of encouragement here, that not only have all created things been called to their highest calling of exulting Him but, it also demonstrates that the decree of God is greater the scares of sin.
How are you carrying out your highest calling by exulting him today?
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