by Charles Bertelsmeier
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
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.
Grow in grace and knowledge
by Peter Bean
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Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18a).
Read 2 Peter 3:1–18
Note how Peter ends his letter – the same way he began: grow in grace and knowledge.
And grace and knowledge are exemplified in verses eight and nine. One day, like a thousand. The Lord is not slow, but patient. No-one knows when Jesus will come again. We long for it, as did these readers almost 2,000 years ago.
But no-one knows. Some people believe the End Times are now. But they don’t know! Some people think the events in the Middle East are signs of the End Times. But they don’t know! Some people see earthquakes and floods as signs of the End Times. But they don’t know! None of us knows!
But what we do know is that the Lord wants people to be saved. He wants us to live peaceful lives. He encourages us to grow in grace and knowledge of who Jesus is.
The end of the church year – today being the second-last day – is not actually about the End Times, the end of the year. It is about the goal. The word for ‘end’ can also mean ‘goal’! The end or the goal of the church year is Advent – the coming of the Christ-child, the One who brings peace, the One who shares grace.
What would you rather spend your time on? Endless speculation about when, where and how Jesus might return? Or living peacefully, growing in grace, walking with Jesus, and so, sharing in the new life that is offered to each one of us, here and now? And that will be fulfilled when all things on Earth and in heaven are made new.
I don’t think there will be too much speculation then. But there will be plenty of grace and peace.
Coming One, Patient One, fill us with peace and grace. Make us knowledgeable about compassion and mercy. Let us live as your people every day. Amen.
Despite the cold spring in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, it is mulberry-picking time, which means mulberry jam, pies and mulberries every way you can imagine. Peter prays that you enjoy whatever God offers you each day. Having now paraphrased Psalms 1–100, Peter invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any of these psalms, send your request to pbean087@gmail.com
False teachers
By Peter Bean
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These false teachers … scoff at things they do not understand … (2 Peter 2:12).
Read 2 Peter 2:10b–22
Hmmm. I don’t know about you, but I struggle with these readings at the end of the church year. What are we to do with them? I struggle to find a verse to use as a starting point (although I have chosen one).
Who or what are false teachers? What are false teachings? Perhaps it might be the tendency to pick and choose a verse or part of a verse that speaks to us. But when taken out of context, does it become a false teaching? Perhaps it is to worship the written word rather than the Living Word!
What gives us life? Is it words on paper? Yes, a verse or chapter might inspire us. Even a well-written poem or a wonderful literary work can help us view life in a different light. But isn’t it what the verse, chapter, poem or literary work points toward that is important?
Scripture points us to Christ. This is perhaps why I struggle with a passage like today’s. I’m not saying we should ignore it, but we do need to read it in context. In the context of the whole book, in the context of Peter’s situation in life – in prison, expecting to die soon – in the context of the entire Scripture. I think it was Martin Luther who said, ‘Was Christum treibt.’ What points to Christ?
Unless we read Scripture through the lens of Christ’s love and sacrifice, of Christ’s willingness to ‘not think of equality with God as something to cling to’ (Philippians 2:6), we could easily fall into the trap that Peter is condemning in this passage.
So, what to do? Thank God for his word, even when it is difficult to understand. Thank God for his Living Word, Jesus, who the written word points to and who gives us life.
Divine Author, there are many things I don’t understand, but I thank you for them all the same. Particularly for the death and resurrection of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, for each one of us. Amen.
Despite the cold spring in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, it is mulberry-picking time, which means mulberry jam, pies and mulberries every way you can imagine. Peter prays that you enjoy whatever God offers you each day. Having now paraphrased Psalms 1–100, Peter invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any of these psalms, send your request to pbean087@gmail.com
Godly people?
by Peter Bean
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials (2 Peter 2:9a).
Read 2 Peter 2:1–10a
If you have read this whole passage, you might be left wondering what hope is there? Unless you are a holy, righteous person, and so never sin, any of the following might apply: you will not be spared (verse four), you will be condemned (verses three and six), and God will be hard on you (verse 10).
Woe is me! If I may be bold enough, woe is you!
Who among us is a holy, righteous person? Who among us is godly? If we follow the demands in this passage – to avoid false teaching, to not be greedy, to practise hospitality and to be holy, unlike everyone around us – we are in trouble. Because, in reality, we are just like everyone around us.
How much do we fit into society? How often do we accept cultural norms, even though they may be questionable? How often do we live as Christ lived, with grace and peace pouring out from us, with compassion and mercy towards the asylum seeker, the refugee or those who are different from us? Quite often, we fail.
BUT … The great gospel ‘but’! The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials. Being godly starts with God. Being godly is a gift won by Jesus. Being godly is a daily breath of life from the Holy Spirit.
Nothing to do with my goodness, righteousness or holiness! The only way I am holy is through the gift of love, the gift of presence and the gift of new life – as it was for all the righteous people throughout the Bible. God takes the initiative. God rescues Noah, Lot, David and Paul. God rescues you. God rescues me. He turns us into holy people who can reflect grace and peace, live with compassion and mercy, and practise justice and integrity. Lord, make me holy again!
Thank you, God, for your grace, peace, love and mercy. Help me to rest in these gifts and live as your person. Amen.
Despite the cold spring in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills, it is mulberry-picking time, which means mulberry jam, pies and mulberries every way you can imagine. Peter prays that you enjoy whatever God offers you each day. Having now paraphrased Psalms 1–100, Peter invites you to read them anew, applying them to your lives. If you would like his paraphrase of any of these psalms, send your request to pbean087@gmail.com