by Charles Bertelsmeier
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Read Ecclesiastes 1:1–11
Although I can remember the names and a little about the lives of my grandparents, I would struggle to tell you the names of all my great-grandparents or anything about their lives.
Then I think about my grandchildren and realise they know virtually nothing about my parents and previous generations. I’m sure we could all agree with the sentiment expressed in today’s verse.
We will spend today and the next four days looking at the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. Before you open your calendar app and set a reminder to resume reading LCA devotions next Saturday and skip these five days, let me encourage you to persevere. God has put every book of the Bible there for a reason and has a message for us. I pray that God has a message for you in what he gives me to write. You may also like to read the whole book before we proceed with these devotions.
The first verse of this book indicates that the author is King Solomon. God blessed King Solomon to be one of the wisest people in history. He is also believed to be the author of the biblical book Song of Songs and to have collected many proverbs.
In Ecclesiastes, the author conducts a series of scientific experiments to find the meaning of life. In reflecting on this, I think we are all doing the same, but probably not as scientifically as Solomon. As young children, we are absorbed in play. As teenagers, we are trying to discover who we are. As young adults, we seek acceptance through our friendship circles and employment. Then, we aim to perpetuate our identity through our children, moving on to get ourselves financially secure and finally retiring to contemplate what we have achieved with our lives. Maybe we will even write up our life stories to perpetuate our legacies.
Solomon tries a range of activities to find meaning and fulfilment but comes up empty each time. Most of these things are things we also do to try to discover meaning and purpose. Spoiler alert: The conclusion Solomon comes to is that we only find that meaning and purpose through our relationship with God and by surrendering our lives to the plans he has for us.
Most of us, me included, didn’t want to hear that when we were younger and tried looking elsewhere. I thank God he didn’t give up on me and gently led me to accept Solomon’s conclusion.
Heavenly Father, I accept that life without you is meaningless. Please help me to listen to your Spirit as we dive into the Book of Ecclesiastes and to find meaning and purpose in your plans for us. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
The Creator cares about me?
by Stuart Gray
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Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life (Psalm 138:6,7).
Read Psalm 138
The theme of this week’s devotions is that God is the God of all peoples, not just Israel.
There is an encounter Jesus had with a Canaanite woman (an outsider), and the prophecy in Isaiah of the creation of new heavens and a new earth where people of all nations worship God. Then there was the struggle the Jews had in accepting that Christ died for all, and the passage from 1 Timothy saying that it is through Christ that God connects to all people. Then we had a vision of what reconciliation between God and humankind will be like.
In keeping with this theme, Psalm 138 also references that God is the God of all. ‘May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed.’
But the verse that really caught my attention is something I have pondered many times. ‘Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly.’
In Psalm 8, the contrast is made greater. ‘When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?’ (Psalm 8:3,4).
The Creator of the universe cares about me? While it might seem arrogant to believe that God pays attention to me, I approach this with humility.
And the psalmist expresses faith in God’s care. ‘Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me’ (Psalm 138:7).
We are not promised a stress- or trouble-free life. But we are promised that God is with us.
So how can we believe this? It is because God has kept his promises by sending his Son to die for us so that we might live, for and with God.
God is the God of all peoples, and that includes me. Only with humility can I thank and praise God.
And humility opens the heart to grace.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for caring for us and looking kindly on us through all the ups and downs of life. We thank you for reconciling us through your Son, who sacrificed his life so that we might live. We pray that we can approach you with both confidence and humility. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Stuart lives with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh in Mansfield, in the beautiful High Country of Victoria. In between helping to maintain a large garden and domestic orchard with 80 fruit trees, Stuart is a volunteer mentor for learner drivers, a Red Cross patient transport driver and is involved in a very active Mansfield Anglican church community. Stuart loves travelling, being outdoors and maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle.
All light, no night
by Stuart Gray
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There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5).
Read Revelation 21:10–22,22:5
How do you describe perfection? More specifically, how do you describe God’s perfection and the promised eternal life with him?
Today’s reading offers a good attempt to describe the divine splendour. It is rich in imagery, a breathtaking vision of extravagant beauty and perfect fellowship with God and the Lamb.
I doubt if modern film technology could do justice to the glory and brilliance expressed in this passage. It is beyond human comprehension.
But apart from the dazzling description of the New Jerusalem, there are three very interesting insights.
Verse 22 says, ‘I did not see a temple in the city.’
The temple in Jerusalem was central to Old Testament Jewish life. As well as a place of worship, it was the spiritual, religious and national centre of Israel. The inner sanctum of the temple represented God’s presence. But while the people worshipped at the temple, their access to the inner sanctum was very limited, only by a priest on the Day of Atonement.
In the New Jerusalem, there is no temple, ‘because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple’. There are no barriers between God and the redeemed; there is direct fellowship with God as full reconciliation has been achieved.
The second important message is that there is no more night. Darkness is often associated with fear, danger, evil and death, but in the New Jerusalem, none of these exists, only the pure light of the Lord God.
And the third insight of this vision: ‘… and they will reign forever and ever.’ This relates to Genesis and God’s original intention that humankind should rule over creation under God’s authority. A creation that was ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31).
Redeemed humanity is not merely living eternity; they are reigning with God.
What a wonderful vision and hope to hold onto.
Heavenly Father, we so look forward to your promise of being in direct fellowship with you and the Lamb in the New Jerusalem. Help us to be your light in this world so that all people may come to you through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Stuart lives with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh in Mansfield, in the beautiful High Country of Victoria. In between helping to maintain a large garden and domestic orchard with 80 fruit trees, Stuart is a volunteer mentor for learner drivers, a Red Cross patient transport driver and is involved in a very active Mansfield Anglican church community. Stuart loves travelling, being outdoors and maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle.
One mediator
by Stuart Gray
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For there is one God and one mediator between God and humankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people (1 Timothy 2:5,6a).
Read 1 Timothy 2:1–7
Today’s reading raises a difficult question. Are Christians the only ones who will see salvation and eternal life? The text says, ‘For there is one God and one mediator between God and humankind, the man Christ Jesus.’
But the next verse says, ‘… who gave himself as a ransom for all people.’
A definitive answer to the question is way above my pay grade, so I would like to take a wider look at the passage and explore what Paul is saying to us.
First of all, Paul urges us to pray for all people. That’s a big ask. During intercessions, when we have the opportunity to pray for those in our hearts, I soon run out of names of family and friends and a few general categories. But Paul says to pray for all people.
And he has distinctions in prayer: supplications, requests for specific needs; prayers, general worshipful communication with God; intercessions, pleading on behalf of others; and thanksgivings, expressions of gratitude.
Paul says we should pray for all those in authority so we can live in ‘all godliness and holiness’.
And the reason for this? Verses 3 and 4 say, ‘This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.’
Again, Paul says God wants all people to be saved and know the truth. And the truth Paul refers to is that there is one mediator between God and humankind. This is ‘the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all people’.
It is clear that Christians are to place their trust in Christ alone as mediator, but God wants the salvation of all people. Thankfully, it is not our role to judge individuals. Our faith is in God’s justice and mercy.
As Christians, we can bear witness to Christ crucified, the mediator between perfect God and sinful humankind; we can respect and love people of other faiths and leave the final judgement to God.
Heavenly Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit works through us to be witnesses to Christ crucified. Help us to treat all people with love and respect. In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Stuart lives with his wife Pamela Dalgliesh in Mansfield, in the beautiful High Country of Victoria. In between helping to maintain a large garden and domestic orchard with 80 fruit trees, Stuart is a volunteer mentor for learner drivers, a Red Cross patient transport driver and is involved in a very active Mansfield Anglican church community. Stuart loves travelling, being outdoors and maintaining a fit and healthy lifestyle.