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.
Some things you can’t unsee
by Greg Fowler
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Among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe … The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire (Revelation 1:13,14).
Read Revelation 1:9–20
When we hear that isolation and loneliness are more prevalent today despite the capacity to be connected 24/7, we are not surprised. In the first century, the Apostle John was physically exiled on the island of Patmos, but anyone can be exiled today, even in the midst of a crowd.
It is into this context of isolation that John received a vision that would forever shape the church’s understanding of our Lord. He turned to see a voice and beheld the glorified Jesus, not as the humble carpenter of Galilee, but as the cosmic king and eternal priest.
The imagery is overwhelming: eyes like blazing fire, feet like glowing bronze and a voice like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand are seven stars, and from his mouth comes a sharp, double-edged sword. His face shines like the sun in all its brilliance.
This is not a portrait meant to terrify us but to fortify our faith. When our own circumstances feel like a Patmos – marked by suffering, loneliness or confusion – this vision recalibrates our perspective. The one we follow is not distant or detached. He is among the lampstands (the churches), intimately present with his people. He holds the messengers of the churches (the stars) in his powerful, sovereign hand.
When we feel that no-one knows us at all or understands our situation, his fiery eyes see through all pretence, knowing our struggles and our hearts completely. This is the same Jesus who walks with us, yet he is the ‘First and the Last’, who conquered death and holds the keys to eternal life.
When our faith feels small, we are called to look up and see our great High King. Our trust is not in a mere historical figure, but in the sovereign Lord of the universe, who is both majestic enough to rule and near enough to hold us fast. He is in our midst for blessing and life.
Lord Jesus, when my vision grows small and my faith weak, remind me of your glory. Help me to see you as John saw you and experience your love as John did. Amen.
Pastor Greg lives in beautiful Redland Bay with his wife, Connie, where they enjoy the beaches, weather and outdoor lifestyle of south Brisbane. He serves as the college pastor at Faith Lutheran College, Redlands.
Look to the Sunrise 2nd Thursday in Advent Read: 2 Samuel 23:1-5 “[God] is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.” 2 Samuel 23:4 (NIV)
In January 1987, four LTC (Lutheran Teacher’s College) graduates set off from Adelaide in two cars to our postings in Queensland. In Brisbane we parted with two graduates going further north-west. Fran and myself drove up the Sunshine Coast where I dropped her in Buderim. I got up early from Buderim after staying one more night with Fran before heading towards Noosa by myself. I was going to a 1-year-old school, hopefully a place to stay and a brand-new class as a brand-new teacher. Good Shepherd Lutheran School had grown from 75 to 150 students in 1987 – what would all this newness hold for me?
As I watched the sun rise heading north to Noosa, I was excited, anxious but also in awe of what God had in store for me. I am sure we have all had this newness feeling. Starting a new job, moving to a new place, a new house, a new school, getting married – everything has a first day, a new beginning! God gives us the sunrise to remind us that He is the light of each new day and through that newness He will shine a path guiding us and leading us. I love the other analogy that the writer of 2 Samuel uses: God is “like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.”
We not only have God’s light to guide us at the beginning of each day, but we have the assurance that He will nourish us with His blessings to keep us growing. That first year of teaching in a new school brought with it many challenges: a broken blackboard, minimal teaching resources, a classroom made up of two office demountables put together, and the need for 6 buckets when it rained. But each morning the sun rose, and I could share God’s blessings with my children and grow them in His love. May each of your sunrises bring God’s light in love and peace.
Take time to be in God’s goodness as we journey to Bethlehem. Grow in God’s light and blessings! Prayer: God of the sunrises and new beginnings. I thank and praise you for each new day and with it help me to see the light of your blessings. May they nourish my life and those around me. Amen
Night Is as Day to God 2nd Wednesday in Advent Read: Psalm 139:7-12 “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.’” Psalm 139:11-12 (NIV)
In 1991 when I nannied in Wales, I took several trips to London when I had time off. I travelled by bus and also by the underground to where I stayed with a friend. One time I remember while on the underground train, the lights went out, the air conditioner stopped, and it became blackness. I remember being terrified as in the darkness, with no light, the mind plays tricks and makes up scary scenarios in the darkness. Around me I could also hear people crying and calling out. After a couple minutes (seemed like hours), all the power came back on, and we went on our way.
Being in the dark, out of control and cast into the unknown is terrifying. King David must have felt like this at times to write Psalm 139, which tells us that no matter where we go, no matter what we do, or how far away from God we may feel… He is always there. God is omnipresent (everywhere at one time) and omniscient (all-seeing). Even the darkness is not dark to God, but it is as light as day. God shines His light in all our dark places – we can never hide from God, which is so comforting to know He is always looking over us and hearing us in all situations.
When I was caught in the underground in London, I felt so alone, so out of control. With God, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. When events or crises occur in our lives it is wonderful to know that we are not alone, and God has promised that ‘This too will pass’. During these times it is hard to hold onto the hope of the unknown. But know when you cannot hold onto hope – Jesus is holding on to you leading and guiding you through the dark places.
Place your love and trust in a God who will never leave you – you are never alone even in the darkest places. There is no darkness with God – only the light of His presence and love! Prayer: Guiding God, send light into my heart and life especially during the dark times. Hold onto me and never let me go. With you beside me I know that I can get through anything. Thank you. Amen.