[QTVOTD] Don’t be a beast!

“I said in my heart regarding the subject of the sons of men, God is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves [under the sun, without God] they are but like beasts.” Ecclesiastes 3:18 ->me: Animals don’t have any sense about what they must or want to do/accomplish before they die. They don’t try to make a lasting mark to be remembered, they just exist and then perish. What I think the Preacher is saying here is that God, through the grinding in and out of life He tries to help us see that by ourselves and in toil for our own gain, or our own mark on society is, in the end, no different than dying like an animal. Nothing is carried forward or makes a difference beyond ‘under the sun’ without God. When God is our goal and the glory of what is done on earth is given to and is for Him, then the impact we have is in the body of His Son…Jesus is glorified, our witness lands true, our eternity is impacted for the better. Those of you following me for awhile know that pride is one my biggest struggles. I pray everyday that God gives me strength to make a discernable tear in the veil of my pride that mutes His face.

[QTVOTD] Take joy without being self-sufficient.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 ->me: This verse follows 7 verses talking about the times for this and times for that (eg. There is a time for war and time for peace). It seems to me that the main point of the passage is that I am offered a life that is joyful but definitely not self-sufficient. God’s sovereignty over earthly ‘times’ is to reinforce the inability for human life to make its own way. No one is put into such a high position that for them vanity does not exist. God sets eternity in the heart of all humans. Our consciousness of God is part of our nature, and the suppression of it is part of our sin. I saw this ‘Augustine’s Maxim’ and I really liked it -> “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they can find peace in You.” One peace that God has given me today is through the news that Bella has asked to get baptized tomorrow at camp (and of course we are going!). What an answer to prayer this is. When you give your most prized possessions to Him He gives something back far more valuable than you could have imagined.

[QTVOTD] Be Content..

“There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and make himself enjoy good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God. For who can eat or who can have enjoyment any more than I can—apart from Him? For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy.” Ecclesiastes 2:24-26a ->me: Here is the counter to worldly pessimism. The Preacher has held before his readers two ways of life: the vicious circle of a pointless world, temporary pleasures, fruitless work, futile wisdom, inevitable death, versus an enjoyable life, given by and taken daily from, the hand of God, in the faithful confidence that God deals appropriately with righteous and unrighteous. In 1 Timothy 4:4 it says, “For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be thrown away or refused if it is received with thanksgiving.” and in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 “[It is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied).” Simple contentment in who we are in Jesus as heirs of a heavenly Kingdom is the Hope that brings contentment here on earth. Why should I have want for anything here. This is a reminder that when I am following my Savior I can be content in what my Salvation will bring…what is awesome is that through this confidence and peace I get a little bit of heaven now.

[QTVOTD] God provides when He is our focus.

“I said of laughter, It is mad, and of pleasure, What does it accomplish?” Ecclesiastes 2:2 ->me: The writer of Ecclesiastes spends Chapter 1 on earthly wisdom without God and now almost all of Chapter 2 on the futility of laughter and pleasures with a horizon leveled only on what is ‘under the sun’. I have spent a good amount of time at lunch today reading the chapter and checking in on some commentaries on this chapter but it has been eating on me all day. I had the opportunity this morning to see God work in my life (my job actually) through dependence on Him. I needed to represent my boss and his PM (Program Manager) peer in a review of our group to the Technical Fellow who leads our Systems organization. I prepared what I needed but I regularly struggle with conciseness and brevity. Well I prayed intently before my meeting, laying it before the Lord and He delivered. I owe the success of my 30 minute read out to the room full of people and my Technical Fellow leader, entirely to the God of my life. I felt comfortable, I was calm, and He took care of my presentation. What if my only goal was achieving greatness through my own means, or joy through seeking the pleasures of this world, or just focusing on how I can do everything myself – It would lack the powerful joy received from giving glory to my King which is what I was designed to do. Ecclesiastes is helping me to see the real way to live this life….by putting my sights on a horizon that is outside/beyond the curvature of this earth.

[QTVOTD] The greater the earthly wisdom the more the ache.

“I gave my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I perceived that this also is a searching after wind and a feeding on it.  For in much [human] wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” Ecclesiastes 1:17-18 ->me:  These set of verses to close out the first chapter of the Ecclesiastes are very reminiscent of Paul’s words in Romans 1:21&22 – “Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].”  The thinkers of this world become so frustrated.  No matter how much they ponder all things, they cannot straighten out life’s anomalies; they cannot reduce all they see to a neat system.  Their wisdom may help in some things, but it cannot solve the fundamental problem of life.  The writer of Ecclesiastes is making it super clear that without God (without faith) the world is a hamster wheel that spins and spins.  All of creation groans with the hope of when the cycle of decay and corruption end (Romans 8:20-21).

[QTVOTD] Starting Ecclesiastes

“Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities! All is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and vainglory).  What profit does man have left from all his toil at which he toils under the sun? [Is life worth living?]” Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 ->me:  I have moved my daily quiet times to a journey through Ecclesiastes.  I am very excited.  The introductions I have read say that it is either Solomon himself who wrote this book or someone observing his wisdom and writing it down.  Ecclesiastes means “the Preacher” or “one who addresses an assembly”.  The timing of the writing does not matter – these words and wisdom are timeless.  The first couple of verses of this book paint a pessimistic picture.  “Everything is vain and futile…why is life even worth living?” -> But what about when faith is introduced?  “All is vanity” is still true, but it is not the whole picture.  With my faith in God new factors are brought in (the generosity of God, divine providence, divine judgement).  The vanity of life is not erased or forgotten; however, these new factors transform the perspective and turn pessimism into faith!  My new perspective will not cancel the old one out but I am living in an overlap -> my new perspective revolutionizes my outlook.  I cannot wait to learn more from this book!!!

[QTVOTD] Wrapping up Colossians.

“Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you earnestly in his prayers, [pleading] that you may [as persons of ripe character and clear conviction] stand firm and mature [in spiritual growth], convinced and fully assured in everything willed by God.” Colossians 4:12  ->me:  Today I finished up my reading through Colossians.  One of the things that stood out to me the most in chapter 4 is prayer.  I like the analogy of prayer being used like a combat radio in battle.  Calling in reinforcements or air strikes to break open doors for the gospel to spread.  We can also use this radio to call enemy positions or call for aircover for a nearby fire team.  Thanksgiving must also accompany these radio conversations – Thank you Sir for clearing the enemy out of the area; we were able to recover prisoners of war.  We were able to retake the town for the Kingdom thanks to your intervention, Thank you.  All too often we use prayer as like a household conventional intercom -> Hey, can you bring a pillow down to the den to make me more comfortable?  One more thing, can you have the kitchen staff make some Danishes tonight after dinner?  Lord, help me to be not only respectful and understanding of my mission but help me to not rest to comfortably in the things of this world -> help me to keep a vigilant eye on who needs Your help and what I can do further Your purposes; grasping every opportunity before me to win more souls for You.

[QTVOTD] Walk to win souls…

“Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.  Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].” Colossians 4:5-6  -me: Evangelism == making the Mystery of Jesus clear to the unsaved.  I must walk in wisdom – Wisdom is received from God.  How do I walk in wisdom if my nose is not in the Word of God every day, if I am not in tune with the direction of the Holy Spirit, and not in steadfast prayer?  I am to give the world no reason to criticize or gossip about the behavior of Christians.  A blameless life lays the foundation for a gracious witness.  I must regard every moment as an opportunity to share my faith.  What I am learning from these 2 verses today is that I need to move forward actively working to make my witness interesting, lively, and colorful [salty]; and at the same time, make sure I have mastered the doctrine of my faith so that I may answer any question put my way by a new believer or newborn Christian.  Having the right answer is not enough; I must be careful that my answers are gracious and the questioner feels loved and respected.

[QTVOTD] How you pray…

“Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving and at the same time pray for us also, that God may open a door to us for the Word (the Gospel), to proclaim the mystery concerning Christ (the Messiah) on account of which I am in prison; that I may proclaim it fully and make it clear [speak boldly and unfold that mystery], as is my duty.” Colossians 4:2-4 ->me: This passage is such an awesome call and explanation of how to pray.  Pray proactively for all things.  Be on the lookout for things to pray for the Lord’s hand in.  Don’t forget to be deliberate in prayer of thanksgiving.  Pray for my pastors as they spread the Word of the Gospel, that the word would fall on ears that God has opened and that those people would respond.  A little extra tidbit for you today that really touched me through a message I was listening to yesterday -> for those of you with loss, trial, illness, chronic pain, or emotional depression -> God never gives a thorn without this added grace: He take the thorn to pin back the veil that hides His face….BAM!!!

[QTVOTD] Who do YOU work for??

“Servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose [with all your heart] because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him. Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah).” Colossians 3:22-24 ->me: In my current place as an employee of a major software company, my focus must be that my work and execution is representative of my devotion to my Eternal King and Heavenly Master. My focus cannot be an effort to elicit favor from men or even for myself -> it must be to glorify the One Who has redeemed me from the death I deserve. This is most important on the days I am tired, discouraged, frustrated, or even lazy. I have work to do in this area of my witness. I have allowed my pride and selfishness to impact my effectiveness. That changes today.