How do we approach the God of the universe? What should the attitude of our heart be in his presence? In this passage, the Preacher shows us the importance of understanding God's transcendence. He is the creator in heaven. We are his creatures on earth. Therefore, we must approach the Lord with a sense of reverence and awe. There is no place for vanity in the presence of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16 // How To Live in A Broken World
Ecclesiastes 3 contains one of the world's most famous poems on the subject of time. The Preacher reminds us that there is a season for everything under the sun; things both desirable and seemingly undesirable. We are also told that God has placed a desire for eternity in the heart of each person. The desire leads us to search for meaning and purpose; a search that only finds it's true end in the eternal God, whose works endure forever.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 // What to Do With Your time
Ecclesiastes 3 contains one of the world's most famous poems on the subject of time. The Preacher reminds us that there is a season for everything under the sun; things both desirable and seemingly undesirable. We are also told that God has placed a desire for eternity in the heart of each person. The desire leads us to search for meaning and purpose; a search that only finds it's true end in the eternal God, whose works endure forever.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26 // Will It Satisfy?
The Preacher has set his heart to discover wisdom and meaning under the sun, but his endeavor leaves him with a deep sense of emptiness and despair. What so many look to for ultimate meaning and purpose; pleasure, wise living, achievements - they are ultimately an attempt to grasp smoke. Thankfully, not all hope is lost. As one author notes, the Preacher is "depressing us into dependence" upon God. Chapter 2 ends with a glimpse of hope as Solomon shows us how an understanding of the vanity of earthly pursuits can lead us to grateful enjoyment of God, the giver of all good things.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 // An Unsettling Truth
Wouldn’t you like to do something meaningful? To contribute something significant to this world and be remembered for your work? According to Solomon, all our efforts are like striving after the wind—attempts for immortality that inevitably fail. We have to come to grips with this unsettling truth before we can grasp the hope that Christ gives us in the midst of such futility.
1 Peter 5:6-14 // Leadership Essentials
As Peter brings his letter to a close, he strings a number of commands together, connecting them to gospel-promises. After all, Peter's purpose in writing is to declare to us the true grace of God. Therefore, “Humble yourselves” because God will exalt you. “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." “Be sober-minded” and “watchful,” because you have an enemy and you are on the Lord's side. “Resist” the Devil and stand “firm,” because you are not alone. All of these commands are followed with an expectant hope that Christ will soon restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us at his return!
1 Peter 5:1-5 // Leadership Essentials
1 Peter 4:12-19 // Suffering as a Christian
What does it mean to endure through times of undeserved suffering? Here Peter shows us that Instead of bitterness and anger, we are to view this kind of suffering as an opportunity to receive an even greater measure of God's presence. When we suffer for the sake of Christ, what are we to do? Entrust ourselves into the hands of our faithful Creator.
1 Peter 4:1-11 // Stewards of God’s Grace
1 Peter 3:8-22 // Encouragement for the Journey
In the gospel, God's people have been promised an incomprehensible inheritance, all by of the grace of God. This is the hope that is in us” (v. 15), through which we can quietly endure all things. What does this mean for us today? According to Peter, our calling now is to “honor Christ the Lord as holy” in our hearts, knowing that when our eternity is secured in Christ, all other concerns become slight in comparison.