Navigating Life

 SEPTEMBER 30 & OCTOBER 1, 2023
 SEPTEMBER 30 – Daily Reading – Ecc. 11-12 / Gal. 4
 OCTOBER 1 – NO READING

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Growing up in the twentieth century, there was a radio program everyone seemed to enjoy. The now syndicated program was called “The Rest Of The Story,” with Paul Harvey. This short segment began as part of his newscast during the Second World War and continued as a popular program on ABC Radio. The stories would begin with a common, often simple story, told in his own special fashion. However, they would end with some relatively unknown details that few knew of, and then he would close with the tag line, “And now you know the Rest Of the Story.” When I read Ecclesiastes, it is not hard for me to imagine hearing Paul Harvey read the last two verses and say, “And now you know The Rest Of The Story.”

        In Solomon’s search for what will bring true satisfaction to a person’s life, he comes to the final conclusion that only knowing God and following His Word will do. Navigating through all the stormy seas of human ideas and failed promises ultimately leads to an empty life. A life filled with sorrow and regret when you face the Lord on Judgment Day. Only anchoring our life in the safe harbor of God’s Word will bring certainty and the real lasting peace we all desire. In Hebrews 6:19 it says, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” Why reinvent the wheel? Solomon has tried it all. Navigating life takes Jesus..

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Vanity of vanities, the writer said. Meaning life is empty without Christ. By the end of the book, we find that death is also empty without Him. To navigate the waters of life, we must let Jesus Captain our ship. He will lead us safely home.

 

Who are you allowing to navigate your life?

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

        Today, as I write this devotion, it is thundering and lightning outside. Even so, I am safe and comfy in my office. So often it is in life as we saw in:

 

  ● Nothing New
  ● Never Alone
  ● Net Gain
  ● Not Looking Back
  ● No Second Chance
  ● Navigating Life

 

      As believers we too can feel safe and comfy during life’s storms when we are Nestled in His Love.

 

       Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 SUNDAYS:

       Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

 

October 2, 2023	Song of So. 1-3	Gal. 5
October 3, 2023	Song of So. 4-6	Gal. 6
October 4, 2023	Song of So. 7-8	Eph. 1
October 5, 2023	Isa. 1-4	Eph. 2
October 6, 2023	Isa. 5-7	Eph. 3
October 7, 2023	Isa. 8-10	Eph. 4
October 8, 2023	No Passages Assigned

 

Nestled In His Love

No Second Chance

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
Daily Reading – Ecc. 9-10 / Gal. 3

GOD’S WORD:

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        In business there is a saying that goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” In other words, always do your best. Most people will read today’s verse as saying the same thing about life. In Ecclesiastes 9:10 Solomon says, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” It would be easy to think he is simply saying, live with all the gusto you can, because there is no life after death. However, we know, and so did Solomon, that there is life after death. Eternal life either in heaven or in hell. So what else could he have been saying in this book about trying to find satisfaction in life?

        With eternity in view, the “whatsoever,” that we find to do here in this life, is to prepare for the next. What we must find to do is repent of our sin and believe in the salvation available through Christ. Then what we find to do will be honoring to the Lord. How should we do that? With all our might. In Matthew 22:37 Jesus said, “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Why should this be what we need to do while here? Because there is life after death. However, if you end up in hell there is “no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom,” that will get you out of there. There is no second chance after death. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Wisdom is knowing that no one escapes eternity. After this life there is life. Either a life of joy and peace in the presence of Jesus who died for our sin, or an eternal life of torment in a place called hell, which God never created for man.

What are you doing with this life today?

 

Not Looking Back

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
Daily Reading – Ecc. 7-8 / Gal. 2

GOD’S WORD:

Ecclesiastes 7:10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Nostalgia waxes poetic sometimes. Looking into the past through rose-colored glasses and seeing all the good that used to be. We look to a time when church socials were big events in town. A time when the cities and schools would never dare conduct activities when church services were on. These times were considered sacred and reserved for the church. We think back to what is often called a simpler time in History. That is what we want to remember. We forget that there was no electricity, phones, cars, computers, or fast-food restaurants. We forget that running water was only running if the person carrying it was cold and hurrying back into the house. The hospitals had few treatments for many illnesses such as leukemia and heart attacks. Saloons and gambling casinos stayed open seven days a week. Truth is that there was sin filled folks back then too. Wishing for the past never solves anything.

 

        You can find good and bad in any age of man. In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul said the same thing as Solomon, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Society may change, but God never changes. He’s as good today as He ever was. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        It is not the time or age that is corrupt. It is people who live during any age. We cannot change time. However, with God’s help we can change the hearts of man. Let us work on what can be changed and leave history to teach us what not to do again.

 

Might we all press forward?

 

Net Gain

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
Daily Reading – Ecc. 5-6 / Gal. 1

GOD’S WORD:

Ecclesiastes 5:15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        People often confuse Net Gain and Net Profit. Although they may refer to the same thing at times, this is not always the case. Net profit is normally measured over a definite period of time, like a quarter, or over a year. It might also refer to the amount of money someone would receive for a product or service, above their investment in that product or service. Net gain, however, is the overall improvement observed in a person’s life or a business’ value when all the possible positive and negative influences have been completely accounted for. Although the person might make a profit and have a big bank account while here on earth, their Net Gain at the moment of death changes. Taking into account all that they may consider positive, (the items they have accumulated,) and subtracting the negative, (death,) what do you have left? That is your Net gain.

        Some will say, well then you have no Net Gain, as death robs you of everything. That is only true if all your treasure is here on this earth. Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:19 that the rich need to be, “Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” You cannot take gold, silver, property, stocks, or bonds with you when you die. You can however be a witness of God’s salvation in you, and possibly take your family and friends along with you. Now that is a real Net gain. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Jesus said in Matthew 6:20 we should, “…lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” He went on to say in verse 21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Invest your life wisely so you end up with a Net Gain.

What will your Net Gain be?

 

Never Alone

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
Daily Reading – Ecc. 3-4 / 2 Cor. 13

GOD’S WORD:

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        It has been said before that many people who pass away in nursing homes do so not from illness or even old age. The cause of their death has been attributed to loneliness. They have the feeling that no one cares about them anymore because no one comes to visit them, and they just give up and quit living. How sad that a generation of people who gave so much, feel now as though no one cares. Solomon, in his study of what brings satisfaction to man found so many things that were of little or no help at all. Yet in Ecclesiastes 4 he does mention something that is beneficial to all. A friend.

        Solomon points out that having a friend to help you is a blessing in so many ways. He says that two seem to get more done together than either could alone. That if one was to fall, there is someone to help them up. If they are cold, they can huddle together and let the others body heat help to warm them. Also, if they are attacked, there is someone there to come to their defense. However, at the end of Ecc. 4:12 Solomon goes then from 2 folks together to having a third in the mix when he says, “…and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” It is good to have a friend, but it is better to have a friend and both of you know Jesus. Jesus said, He would never leave you nor forsake you. You are never alone when you know Christ. The reality of this is so profound that God in His infinite wisdom built the church just for you. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Not everything Solomon searched out proved to bring real satisfaction. Most he claimed was vanity, or emptiness compared to life. Yet, having a Christian friend is so rewarding. Not only do you enjoy one another now, but also throughout eternity.

Will you be that friend to someone?