Listening to the Word

Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4   “It is better to go to a house of mourning that go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart…The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.” Ecclesiastes 7:2, 4 In an age where people are trying to look younger and trying to reverse the effects of aging and extend life, Solomon’s words concerning death are a trumpet call. Facing the reality of death and its consequences is wisdom.   In light of our impending death, how then should we live? What changes, new considerations, and priorities should we be taking to heart in light of our unknown date but certain reality of our death? With the many deaths of a pandemic are we becoming wiser as a society regarding our priorities in life? Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He faced and defeated death and offers eternal life now to those who entrust their lives to him. Have we experienced...

Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalms 18; Ephesians 3   “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power…to know this love that surpasses knowledge…Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” Ephesians 3:16-18, 20 Paul’s discipleship and life with God was rooted in the reality of God’s love for him. Through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, Paul knew God’s love. This experiential knowledge transformed his whole being and motivated his doing. Our knowing, being, and doing must also be transformed by the reality of God’s love for us in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. When our knowledge of God remains theoretical and our service for God is based on ritual or duty, we are not being transformed by the living presence of Christ. It is the personal indwelling p...

Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalms 45; Ephesians 2 “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 2:17 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:6, 10 Solomon’s quest for purpose and meaning in life focused on knowing and doing. He missed the essential quality of being. Although God appeared to Solomon several times in dreams, Solomon didn’t make a relationship with God a priority like his father David. He didn’t find his identity in being loved by God as a son. Rather than finding the joy of God’s throne room, Solomon built his own. Rather than finding the joy of God’s workmanship in his life, Solomon embarked on his own great works. We can be tempted to also search for meaning and purpose in our careers, accomplish...

Proverbs 30-31; Psalms 33; Ephesians 1 “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 33:18-22 In the tests of life, where are we looking for help? Where do our eyes turn? David looked up and focused his hope on the Lord. He cultivated a life of worship and prayer so that the presence of the Lord became his confidence. As David looked to the Lord he found God’s eyes were on him. God’s eyes are on those who fear him, who reverence his name, and who trust in his unfailing love in their lives. Are we placing our trust in our government, employment, education, or influence with others, to save us? Where and to whom are we looking today? Will we look to the Lord in worship and surre...

Proverbs 28-29; Psalms 60; Romans 16   “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Romans 16:19, 20 To be innocent of what is evil is not to be naïve; but rather, it is to be separated from evil by choice. To be wise about what is good is to choose the good. We are to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure…” (Philippians 4:8). Satan is our enemy whom Christ has defeated and it is under Christ’s authority that we resist temptation, sin, and that which is evil. In Christ we can declare today that which is evil is under our feet.   Why would we stoop to entertain evil when we have been given authority to rule and reign with Christ? Jesus instructed his disciples to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). These words were spoken to the disciples as they l...

Proverbs 25-27; Romans 15   “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 Hope is an elusive quality in our day when our health, finances, and way of life are at risk. Paul invited the Church in Rome – and us - to lift our eyes off of our circumstances and look to a more secure source of hope. For those who ask, the God of hope promises to fill us with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Rome was known for its power, glory, and honor. Yet, Rome could not give Christ-followers the hope they needed to sustain themselves. Hope is the living expectation of something promised. Hope of eternity transforms the cost of our current reality into something much smaller. Hope rooted in God’s nature and character marks the lives of those who know him. He indwells us and he is hope. “Father God, thank you for your hope. Renew and fill me with the power of your hope through the Hol...