defeat

Never, Ever, Ever Accept Defeat {Ecclesiastes 6-8}

8:30 PM


Let’s face it, the Book of Ecclesiastes is a strange book, or better put, just not your typical book found in the Bible. There truly doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to his writing at first glance, but when you look a bit deeper, you’ll begin to see two themes, or perspectives that jump out. The first being - life apart from God, and the second, of a life lived before Him. 
I tend to think Solomon’s purpose in writing Ecclesiastes was to force his readers to take a sober look at their own mortality, and thus decide how they’re to live in light of this brief existence and eternity.

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that [day of death] is the end of every man, and the living will take it to heart and solemnly ponder its meaning. Sorrow is better than laughter, for when a face is sad (deep in thought) the heart may be happy [because it is growing in wisdom].” – Eccl 7:2-3 AMP

Solomon seems to me like a cynical old man as he writes, and one reading just these verses alone might think he didn’t believe in life after death, but if we move along just a bit further into the next chapter we’ll see that’s not so at all.

 Solomon also saw the “wicked” succeeding during his lifetime, and understood our flesh can be tempted at times to believe that life would be better apart from God, which is why in Ecclesiastes 8:12, Solomon warns us saying, “Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.” We can see here, he is speaking about the eternal judgment.

He knew we have so much more to live for than the here and now. It was his mission to assure us that our lives on Earth are just a tiny blip on eternity’s timeline. When we look at our lives through that perspective, we realize that doing whatever it takes to get ahead in this life is just as Solomon described—meaningless.

It’s our relationship with Jesus that is far more valuable than any temporary treasure. 

Those of us who follow Jesus may not always be given immediate reward for following Him, nor will people receive immediate judgment for walking away from Him. BUT in spite of whatever hardship we may endure, one day, because of our relationship with Jesus, we will find it was worth it all! Every bit this life threw at us!

I wonder, has there ever been a time when you believed the lie that your life would be better without God in it? If so, you are not alone. Many are these days. The church is shrinking as more and more believe the lie that they will be far better off enjoying this life today and not worrying about the next.

We’ve all heard the quote, “And if there is no resurrection, "Let's eat and drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!" This was actually written by Paul in 1 Cor 15:32, but many think it was Solomon that coined that phase. What Solomon actually said was,

“Behold, here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God gives him—for this is his [allotted] reward.  Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, He has also given the power and ability to enjoy them and to receive [this as] his [allotted] portion and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God [to him].” –Eccl 5:18-20 AMP
And
 “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one as well as the other.” – Eccl 7:13-14a

I believe Solomon was trying to tell us that we should accept whatever God gives us and understand that God means it for our welfare! For He knows the plans He has for us! Plans to give us HOPE for our future! (Jeremiah 29:11) If it’s a tough battle you’re in just now, I hope you'll begin to cry out to God and others for help. 

Trouble starts when we find ourselves near-sided and only able to see what’s in front of us at the moment and fail to gain the “big picture” or better yet, an eternal (God's) perspective. 

 If you’re struggling at the moment to gain God’s perspective in all you’re dealing with, please share and let us encourage you and pray for you. Please don’t ever give up on God without speaking to other followers first!
I can promise you-- He will never ever give up on you!

Blessings!

sue

1 Peter

Keep Fervent in Your Love {1 Peter 4}

12:00 AM


Monday Nov. 13, Keep Fervent in Your Love {1 Peter 4}



Some people mistakenly believe that being a Christian gives you a “get out of jail free card” when it comes to the trials of life. Adversity is a result of living in a fallen world, and believers aren’t immune from the pain of suffering. In this chapter Peter tells us that as Christians not only are we not to be surprised when facing persecution, we are to rejoice when we suffer for our faith.

“Therefore since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (vs. 1-2) No one knows more about suffering than Jesus. Not only did He suffer physically with beatings, torture and crucifixion, He also suffered the pain of betrayal, sorrow, and anguish. Yet He endured all of that willingly, obediently, and out of His love for us. And out of our love for Him and His gift to us of salvation, we also are to be willing and obedient in living to fulfill the will of God. No longer continuing in our former lustful ways of the world but instead pursuing lives of holiness, following the example set by our Lord.

But leading such lives isn’t easy. There is tremendous pressure from the world around us to be the same as we were before we received Jesus as our Savior. “They are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you.” (v. 4) Those who aren’t  followers of Jesus find it hard to understand why we would want to lead our life for anyone other than ourselves. They want us to do as they do. And when we don’t, we become targets of their ridicule and scorn. But Peter tells us that those same unbelievers, “will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (v. 5) One day they will stand before the throne of God and give an account of their lives to the Almighty, who will judge both those who are living and who have been long dead. No one will escape. But until that time we are to, “be of sound judgement and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer” (v. 7) And we are called respond to those who persecute us the same way we respond to fellow believers....in love.

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (v. 8) Here Peter isn’t telling us that loving others earns God’s forgiveness. We know that our sins are paid for by Jesus’ death on the cross, and forgiveness for sin 
comes only through trusting in Him. Instead it means that even Christians are sinners who fail and need forgiveness daily. And in remembering that we can love each when hurt, we can forgive each other when wronged, and we can build each other up when we fall. Love makes it possible for us to be, “hospitable to one another without complaint”, using our God given gifts and talents to serve one another and lead others to the Lord, so “in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (v. 11)




Peter goes on to warn that trouble will indeed come into our lives, so we shouldn’t be taken by surprise when it does. “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.” (v. 12) Some people are thrown off guard when they suffer thinking that since God is in complete control of all things, He should stop adversity from entering our lives. But God uses trials to test His people, to deepen our relationship with Him, and to display His glory to the world. Not all suffering is testing, but regardless for the reason God wants us to be steadfast and holy throughout it all. 

Not only are we to expect trouble, we are to rejoice when we are persecuted for Christ’s sake, and find joy in the opportunity to share in His sufferings. “to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” ( v. 13) When we face persecution because of our faith in Jesus, we can find great joy knowing that one day Jesus will be revealed in all of His glory, and we too will be revealed as His very own. For Peter reminds us that, “if you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (v. 14) Suffering hurts. There are no two ways about it. And when we are knee deep in pain it can be hard to find the blessing. But when we are hated for following Jesus, we can comfort and joy knowing that God has chosen to glorify Himself through us, bless us, and love us. All because we belong to His Son!

2 timothy 3

Difficult Times {2 Timothy 3}

12:30 AM



All you have to do is turn on the news and it is overwhelming how much hate, violence, and selfish greed abounds.  If you work in a job involving customer service, you will also find an abundance of demanding, rude, and self entitled people who thrive on making enough of a scene to get what they want.  When I think back to how society was in my early childhood years and compare it to today, I would definitely have to say that it makes for more difficult times. The more godless or self centered a society becomes the more that society begins to implode ( collapse inward upon itself).  

Paul gives warning that as society abandons the truths and values of God, times will get more difficult for all.
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (1-5)

Well, we can't avoid such people all together, but we can make wise choices about who we surround ourselves with in our groups of intimate friends and companions. Instead of letting the world influence and change us, we should hope to influence and change the world.  As God gets pushed to the sidelines of modern culture, we have a responsibility to be light in a world growing ever darker.

Have you known persecution?  Paul says to expect it if you are a follower of Christ "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.."  but as he continues, he also shows us that sinners suffer a self inflicted persecution. 
"...while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”  Satan's specialty is deception and it is a downward spiral of destruction because it leaves a person empty and cut off from the love of God.  No matter how much we may suffer because we follow Christ, , it is the deceived of this world who suffer the greatest loss of all. 

Paul encourages us in v 14 "continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed".  He ends this chapter with some of my favorite verses for they speak of life and mystery and the awesome gift we have because we can read the sacred Word of God.  
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (16-17)

The world chooses to be deceived.  We can choose to know truth.  The world chooses to self destruct.  We can choose to be equipped by God and made complete. 
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