Devotional Thoughts for the Week of May 22, 2022 - Finding Meaning
This weekend has me pondering the poetic words of Ecclesiastes 3, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). Today we plan to celebrate with new parents expecting their first child. Yesterday we met with people walking the hard journey of cancer, and with others mourning the loss of a loved one. Half a mile up the road a wedding was taking place, and at the same time young people were preparing for their senior prom. Two days ago a destructive tornado touched down just thirty miles from here and one week ago a young student lost his life in a tragic accident. All of this reminds us to stop and consider the big picture of what life is all about. Although every life is unique, birth and death, pleasure and heartache, toil and unexpected events happen to all of us. As none of us was aware of the day of our birth, so none of us knows when our last day will be. After our death most of us will be completely forgotten within a generation or two. What then, is the point of our existence? What is it that makes life meaningful? The writer of Ecclesiastes reached this conclusion: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (12:13-14). Considering the viewpoint that life consists of birth, toil and struggle, death and obscurity, our existence does not seem very meaningful or important. Something within us longs for greater significance. That is because God has set eternity in our hearts (Eccl.3:11). We are wired not for just a few years of this life, but for life everlasting.
Stop for a moment to ponder the great value that God has placed upon such insignificant creatures as you and me. He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die in our place so that we might dwell forever in rich relationship with the Most High God, with Yahweh, the Great “I AM.” To know God is the whole point of life (John 17:3). “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight” (Eph. 1:3-4). This truth is too amazing for my feeble mind to grasp. Way back before He created the universe, God looked down through time and saw me. He did not just see a vague horde of people who would exist in another 5,000 years. He saw me specifically. He knew my name and He chose me as His own from the start! Choosing me brought Him pleasure (Eph. 1:5). Can you even imagine that? The knowledge of how intimately God sees me and knows me and cares for me “Is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:6). What an amazing God we are privileged to know! Spend some time today marveling at Him. Oh that the eyes of our hearts might be enlightened to grasp the immeasurable riches of this glorious hope! (Eph. 1:18). Relationship with God is the abundant life Jesus came to bring (John 10:10).
Whatever time or season you may find yourself in today, be greatly encouraged, my friend. God is near. He chose you as His own before He ever said “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3). His desire for a relationship with you gives your life meaning and value far beyond anything you will accomplish on this earth. Choose today to seek His face. Live your life to please Him and to bring Him glory in whatever circumstances you face this week.
Lynn
This weekend has me pondering the poetic words of Ecclesiastes 3, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). Today we plan to celebrate with new parents expecting their first child. Yesterday we met with people walking the hard journey of cancer, and with others mourning the loss of a loved one. Half a mile up the road a wedding was taking place, and at the same time young people were preparing for their senior prom. Two days ago a destructive tornado touched down just thirty miles from here and one week ago a young student lost his life in a tragic accident. All of this reminds us to stop and consider the big picture of what life is all about. Although every life is unique, birth and death, pleasure and heartache, toil and unexpected events happen to all of us. As none of us was aware of the day of our birth, so none of us knows when our last day will be. After our death most of us will be completely forgotten within a generation or two. What then, is the point of our existence? What is it that makes life meaningful? The writer of Ecclesiastes reached this conclusion: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (12:13-14). Considering the viewpoint that life consists of birth, toil and struggle, death and obscurity, our existence does not seem very meaningful or important. Something within us longs for greater significance. That is because God has set eternity in our hearts (Eccl.3:11). We are wired not for just a few years of this life, but for life everlasting.
Stop for a moment to ponder the great value that God has placed upon such insignificant creatures as you and me. He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die in our place so that we might dwell forever in rich relationship with the Most High God, with Yahweh, the Great “I AM.” To know God is the whole point of life (John 17:3). “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight” (Eph. 1:3-4). This truth is too amazing for my feeble mind to grasp. Way back before He created the universe, God looked down through time and saw me. He did not just see a vague horde of people who would exist in another 5,000 years. He saw me specifically. He knew my name and He chose me as His own from the start! Choosing me brought Him pleasure (Eph. 1:5). Can you even imagine that? The knowledge of how intimately God sees me and knows me and cares for me “Is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:6). What an amazing God we are privileged to know! Spend some time today marveling at Him. Oh that the eyes of our hearts might be enlightened to grasp the immeasurable riches of this glorious hope! (Eph. 1:18). Relationship with God is the abundant life Jesus came to bring (John 10:10).
Whatever time or season you may find yourself in today, be greatly encouraged, my friend. God is near. He chose you as His own before He ever said “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3). His desire for a relationship with you gives your life meaning and value far beyond anything you will accomplish on this earth. Choose today to seek His face. Live your life to please Him and to bring Him glory in whatever circumstances you face this week.
Lynn
