Monday, June 30, 2014

And Now for Something Completely Different. Ecclesiastes 1-2; First John 3

May the mumbling commence!

And now, for something completely different!  We leave Proverbs and dive into Ecclesiastes.  We leave the nearly black and white world of Proverbs and arrive at the gray and pessimistic worldview of the jaded teacher.

There is nothing new under the sun.  We are doomed to repeat the stories of history over and over again.  Read from Ecclesiastes chapter one:

History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.  What can you point to that is new? How do you know it didn't already exist long ago?  We don't remember what happened in those former times. And in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now. (Verses 9-11)

Indeed, we do not learn from history.  We repeat old mistakes.  Old becomes new, and new becomes old.  It may be dressed a little differently, but there is nothing new under the sun.

We have forgotten what our ancestors have done… just as our descendants will forget what we are doing now.  There is little to inspire hope if there is only this world to look forward to. 

That is why I give thanks for the perspective of eternal life that Jesus grants us.  There is more to life than this corrupt world.  Praise God!

How do we get beyond the blues of this world?  Stop focusing on ourselves and focus on other people.  It may be old news, but it’s all about love.  Let’s live that life of love together with Christ.  Read from First John chapter three:

Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.  It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before the Lord, even if our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 
Dear friends, if our conscience is clear, we can come to God with bold confidence.  And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him.  And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.  Those who obey God's commandments live in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Holy Spirit lives in us. (Verses 18-24)

Actions speak louder than words, but both of these things are built on the foundation of our attitudes.  That is the heart of the matter.  Do what God commands with a humble and grateful heart… not because we feel obligated to do so.

May our lives center on pleasing the Lord God.  That is living that goes far beyond the pale shadow that the teacher in Ecclesiastes ever knew!

Enough mumbling for now…


Peace Out

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