Never Alone

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
Daily Reading – Ecc. 3-4 / 2 Cor. 13

GOD’S WORD:

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        It has been said before that many people who pass away in nursing homes do so not from illness or even old age. The cause of their death has been attributed to loneliness. They have the feeling that no one cares about them anymore because no one comes to visit them, and they just give up and quit living. How sad that a generation of people who gave so much, feel now as though no one cares. Solomon, in his study of what brings satisfaction to man found so many things that were of little or no help at all. Yet in Ecclesiastes 4 he does mention something that is beneficial to all. A friend.

        Solomon points out that having a friend to help you is a blessing in so many ways. He says that two seem to get more done together than either could alone. That if one was to fall, there is someone to help them up. If they are cold, they can huddle together and let the others body heat help to warm them. Also, if they are attacked, there is someone there to come to their defense. However, at the end of Ecc. 4:12 Solomon goes then from 2 folks together to having a third in the mix when he says, “…and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” It is good to have a friend, but it is better to have a friend and both of you know Jesus. Jesus said, He would never leave you nor forsake you. You are never alone when you know Christ. The reality of this is so profound that God in His infinite wisdom built the church just for you. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Not everything Solomon searched out proved to bring real satisfaction. Most he claimed was vanity, or emptiness compared to life. Yet, having a Christian friend is so rewarding. Not only do you enjoy one another now, but also throughout eternity.

Will you be that friend to someone?

     

Nothing New

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023
Daily Reading – Ecc. 1-2 / 2 Cor. 12

GOD’S WORD:

Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        There are new inventions every single day. When I was a boy, you had to carry change with you and find a pay phone somewhere to call someone. Today, almost everyone, everywhere carries a phone in their pocket. It used to be if you even owned a television, it was in black and white. To change the channel someone had to get up out of their chair and walk across the room and manually change the channel. Today, you can just speak into the air and some device will change the channel of your High-Definition color television. To send someone a letter you took out some paper and a pencil, wrote your letter, placed it in an envelope, put a stamp on it and sent it off in the mail. Today we have text, social media, and E-mail to speed those things along. So, when Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 1:9 “…there is no new thing under the sun…” just what does he mean?

        Solomon is not saying there will never be any new inventions. He is not saying there will never be new and great ideas. He himself was a very wise man who built a temple that was, in his day, a modern marvel. What Solomon set out to do was to find out what it is that will bring satisfaction to man. I think that everyone will agree, all these new gadgets and ideas have never brought lasting joy to the heart of anyone. They may make life simpler in some ways, but humanity still lives and dies and goes off into eternity. Nothing really new about that. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Over and over Solomon comes to the same conclusion. “Vanity of vanities” he says. Nothing he tries truly satisfies. If we want lasting joy, we must find it outside of this world. Eternal life, real life begins when we accept Jesus as our Saviour.

Do you have real satisfaction in Him?

   

Morals Really Matter

 SEPTEMBER 23 & 24, 2023
 SEPTEMBER 23 – Daily Reading – Pro. 30-31 / 2 Cor. 1 1
 SEPTEMBER 24 – NO READING

 GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Where are all those popular kids from High School? You know, the ones everyone seemed to like. Admit it, even you liked them just a little. What are they doing now? I do not see many of them on TV or read about them in magazines. All that popularity was good for a brief time. However, what is it good for today? What about that knockout beautiful girl or the good-looking guy, have you seen them lately? The fact is that popularity, or the favor of man comes and goes. It seems to change from year to year. Beauty, physical outer beauty that is, also changes. This does not mean you are not attractive anymore, but it is a fact that our bodies change with time.

        However, the character of a person is what is really remembered. A person who loves the Lord and has some deep-rooted Godly morals seems to have a unique quality about them others cannot imitate or explain. They are often referred to by phrases like “He is a good man,” “she is a godly woman,” or “there is just something about them that is different.” The book of Proverbs ends with an admonition to let the inner beauty from God shine through our lives. Why, because that will build our character and that goes on forever. People respect God-fearing people even if it appears that they do not. Let God shine through you. Then people will automatically see the best “YOU” ever because they will see “JESUS” in you.  

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Today, people are going to form an opinion about you. You and only you can choose what that opinion may be. Although, you do not have to develop that character alone. Ask God today to help you be all you can be for Him.

What will people see when they look at you today?

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

        Benjamin Franklin had a saying, ”watch the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves” It is also true in life. If we Mind the Little Things, the bigger things fall into place. We saw that this week in:

  ● Master Plans
  ● More Sure Words
  ● Mountain Streams
  ● Much Becomes Nothing
  ● My Dream World
  ● Morals Really Matter Sin

        Mind the Little Things out of God’s Word, and God will put the BIG parts of life together for you.

       Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 SUNDAYS:

       Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

Minding The Little Things

     

Much Becomes Nothing

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
Daily Reading – Pro. 26-27 / 2 Cor. 8

GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 27:7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        “I am so full I cannot eat another thing.” Everyone has heard, or probably said those words before. You have had so much that if you eat just one more thing you think you will explode. Nothing even looks good anymore. In today’s passage, Solomon is using this idea to convey some important truths to his son. 

        The full soul, the affluent, those who have need of little in this world, will often also be wasteful. Forgetting what it was like to hunger, thirst, or need help in any way. They also often forget what it is like to be grateful for the love and help of a friend. To the hungry, the needy, or those who from time to time still need a friend’s help, every little thing seems to be a great gesture of love. Even the counseling of a good friend is seen as an act of genuine care.

        As a result, those who have so much of this world’s material goods will commonly not see the need for God, salvation, Jesus, or the church. They begin to trust that they have all they will ever need in their earthly possession. While the less affluent of this world often look to the hand of God to supply their every need and rejoice in His smallest of blessings. The wealthy in this world may have all their earthly possession, but they frequently miss out in the blessings of God as He showers his love on those who genuinely believe. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Are all wealthy people like that? Think for a moment, who wrote this. It was Solomon, the wealthiest man of his day. It is not about your pocketbook; it is about your heart. We must never forget, no matter what we have, God sustains and supplies it all.

Will you be thankful today?