Monday, November 8: Ecclesiastes 1- Meaningless.

If you are needing a pick-me-up, today’s reading probably didn’t do it. "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless" (2) is the opening salvo of this book. Before dismissing this word let it sink in… (Remember the answer will come later).

Life, from one perspective, is a treadmill, a seemingly never-ending cycle. Day upon day, work upon work, meal upon meal… a never ending cycle. People come and people go.

A friend of mine has asked me a handful of times in the last months, “What is the meaning of life?” Obviously, since I was asked repeatedly, I haven’t answered the question adequately. Life comes, life goes, stuff happens, joy springs… Januarys come and go and come again. Such is the cycle that the author notes.

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun (9). Truth abounds in that thought.

So where does God take me as I muse this chapter? God takes me deep. The question of my friend pops up again. “What’s the meaning of life?” A catechism answer fills my mind: to love God and enjoy Him forever! A scripture comes to mind: Serve the Lord with gladness… (Ps 100:2a).

Years ago I said “yes” to Jesus. I would serve Him and follow Him. Stuff happens, joy breaks out, heartaches tackle us and the cycle, in varying order, happens over and over again. And yet, I know my Redeemer lives and that His hand is upon me.  And my prayer and focus in life is that somehow in living life, I will enjoy my Lord and point others to Him.

Meaning… I find meaning in my relationship with Jesus.

Lord, thank You for allowing me to bear Your name, to know You and be known by You, to enjoy You and the many people You brought into my life as I live my years with You. Thank You, for YOU! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

Saturday, November 6: Esther 10- What are you working for.

When I opened and read the 3 verses, my first thought was.  “Hmmmm, not much here.” I read it again. Then I consciously asked, “Lord, what morsel do you have for me today?” I read it again and the closing words worked into my thoughts.  Mordecai … worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews (3). Those words about Mordecai jarred my thinking, “What am I working for?” Mordecai took the selfless stance to put his efforts toward work for his people, God’s people. His position and power and influence were dedicated to helping God’s people. He could have focused on self, he could have sought the lap of luxury. Instead he gave himself to the care and welfare of God’s people.

The whisper of the Spirit came to me, “Bill, would you be a Mordecai? Will you work for the welfare of God’s people? Will you put advancement of God’s kingdom and the care and welfare of God’s people ahead of personal benefit? Will you be a Mordecai?”

Well, those are heavy thoughts. I’d like to say that I immediately said “yes.” But answering those questions honestly, at least for me, isn’t easy. ‘Yes’ requires personal sacrifice and potentially, lots f it. And that isn’t something I take lightly…

As I wrestle with my answer, how about you? How would you answer those same questions from the Lord?

Lord, help me respond ‘yes’ to these questions. And like the man who answered you ‘I believe, help my unbelief,’ Lord, help me when I want to respond ‘no.’ Help me to say ‘yes’ then as well. Through Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

Friday, November 5: Esther 9- The art of celebration

Reading Esther’s story is a bit like reading a Disney fairytale, with its happily-ever-after ending. Of course Esther’s story is true, which is a significant difference form Disney tales. Another difference is Esther’s desire and decree to celebrate the event year after year, decade after decade… forever.

The Jews have a wonderful sense of perpetual celebration to keep alive the memory of what God has done. My sense of their celebrations is not that it celebrates man’s achievements or Jewish ingenuity but the sovereign saving hand of their God, who has once again come through for them.

I began musing celebrations that dot my life yearly. There are birthdays; anniversaries; faith holidays like Easter and Christmas; and national holidays like 4^th of July and Memorial Day. Most of these, even the faith-based ones, don’t seem to carry the God-honoring element much these days.  This is certainly true in society.

No wonder God is disappearing from societal view.

Rather than slide into a commentary of cultural life, I (prompted by the Spirit, I hope) shift my thinking back to my life and family where I influence celebrations…

Lord, what can I do to infuse You into life celebrations? Your grace allows us to life year upon year. How can I introduce you into birthdays? Your grace has been the hands under my marriage.  How can I appropriately thank You and my wife when our next anniversary rolls around?  How can I celebrate Your wonder and grace as a part of life’s celebrations?

Bless You, Lord.  Thank You, Lord.  To You be the praise and the glory now and forever. Amen.

 

PS… I am wondering if there is something simple I could do on Thanksgiving, which is only 3 weeks away, to infuse a God-honoring element into our family gathering?

 

Wednesday, November 3: Esther 7- Comes a time when you gotta do it!

If I am honest with myself, much of the time prayer is a lot easier and safer than action. Maybe this isn’t true for you but it is often true for me.

What I mean is that it is easier for me to pray about doing something than to do that something. Prayer is never meant to be an escape from action rather prayer is a seeking the strength, guidance and leading of God so that we do the things God wants us to do. This chapter involves Esther doing what she had prayed about, seeking the king’s protection from the evil plot hatched by Haman.

When the moment arises Esther seizes it and pleads with the king for her people. God, behind the scenes, acts and the king grants her petition.  Haman is executed.

What tumbled in my heart and mind was action.  Prayer prepares us for action. There comes a time when we have to step up and do what we have praying about to God.

We have been praying for timing and wisdom to share Jesus with a friend. There comes a time to open our mouths and share.

We have been praying for a mission or ministry.  There comes a time to reach into our wallets and give to support them and/or volunteer time to support them.

We are praying for God to reveal knowledge of His will to us.  We best match our prayer with study of His word.

Prayer prepares us for action…

Spend a few moments reviewing your prayer life.  Are there some areas where your (and my) prayer lives need to translate into actions?!

Lord, what do You want me to DO for You today? Amen.

 

 

Thursday, November 4: Esther 8- Glory to God in the highest.

There are different ways to praise God. People can shout God’s praise, they can dance and sing and proclaim God’s praise. The final sentence, one I don’t recall meditating upon before, reminds me of another way to praise God. Verse 17, In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.

We can recognize God’s greatness and follow God, surrender our lives to His ways, become part of God’s family. The greatest praise we can give to God is not the lip service of our lives rather it is life-long obedience… the day upon day, hour upon hour recognition and submittal to God as Lord and Ruler and Director of our lives.

Many people seeking God’s hand on the Jews did just that, they gave their lives to following God!

Am I and are you following God? Have you surrendered to the Lord and adopted His ways as your ways? Do you seek obedience to God as a first order of business as you live hour upon hour or day upon day?

The Holy Spirit is asking me these questions as I write and meditate this morning. Am I God’s in the big and small deals of life?

God, may it be so of my life.  Help me to live a life of praise to You, one obedient act after another. And Lord, would my life, like Esther’s be an example to other to follow You, too. In Jesus name. Amen.

 

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Tuesday, November 2: Esther 6- When surprises come.

Neither Haman nor Mordecai could ever envision the happenings of the day. For Haman, it turned from great to disaster in the blink of an eye. For the Mordecai and the Jews, you can feel the turn in the opposite direction.

Haman is a self-made man. I wondered, “Who does he turn to when the unexpected happens?” Advisors are just that, advisors.  They have little or no skin in the game and they often cut bait and run when the heat is on. In a mild way we see this in the text. His advisors pontificate about Haman’s demise; clearly they will not remain standing with him.

My question broadens, “Who do you turn to when you are a self-made person???”

Mordecai’s day had the opposite trajectory.  Starting in the gutter, he was lifted to a seat of honor and royal acclamation. But remember what he did when he faced the day of despair, when he learned of the edict against him and all Jews. He turned to his faith, his faith-community and his God in fasting and prayers. Mordecai had somewhere to turn.

No one can predict what any given day will bring. Most days come and go with few trajectory changing surprises.  However, now and then those days come and events happen that take us by surprise. Where will you turn when surprises come?

Haman has no where to turn. Mordecai has faith, community and God. Where will you turn when surprises come?

Think about it…

Lord, I am so thankful that You are part of my life, that You are there 24/7/365. I am so thankful that I have faith, a community and You to turn to in times of surprise and need. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You. Amen.

 

Monday, November 1: Esther 5-Trouble within

Two divergent thoughts sparked as I read this chapter. Esther’s charm and wiliness in setting the stage with anticipation for her request to the king. Most often I am direct and could learn a thing or two from her God-inspired savviness.

But where I lingered most was contemplating Haman. This man had everything. He was the right hand to the king, second over the entire nation with money, success, power and prestige. Yet under his skin and behind his finely detailed façade, anger lurked. I don’t know any other way to explain why a single peasant, a nobody, would engender such animosity and hatred. The NIV text uses the word ‘rage.’ In Hebrew it is an extremely strong word carrying the idea of fire in the belly and indignation. I wondered why a lowly nobody could cause such reaction and furry.

I bounced from Haman to humans to me.  How well we humans can harbor such deep seeded sin and emotion. How ‘natural’ it is for us to carry things like this hidden inside. History is littered with sad examples, Hatfields v. McCoys; Protestants v. Catholics in Northern Ireland; Jews v. Arabs in the Middle East.  For decades and centuries these, and many other groups, have seethed against one another. The news carries story upon story of the seemingly ‘nice person next door’ who rampages a school, post office, manufacturing plant,  killing innocent people.

Extreme, certainly these cases are as was Haman’s but as I mused, I recognized the human ability and my ability to harbor sin of many kinds deep within.

Lord God, my only hope is the cleansing, redeeming, sanctifying work of the Father’s love, Jesus’ atonement and the ongoing voice of the Holy Spirit within. Left to myself, I have Haman potential.  Only surrender to the cross and willingness to receive the Lord’s correction can change me.

O, Lord, I surrender to You… Holy Spirit have free reign in my life… growing me into a person who reflects Your character and nature of God. Amen.