Photo courtesy of ChristianPhotos.net
As many of you know, I’m participating in Shannon Mullins’ Living Power Through the Bible in a Year Online Bible Study. It’s been an amazing journey and I can honestly say, the best study I’ve ever done. Ever. We read our daily passages in the New Living Translation and Shannon prepares daily video teachings Monday through Friday. On the weekends we keep up with our reading. I hope you’ll check it out. It’s free and you can join any time.
Today’s passage was in our reading last week, and it was one of those that stayed with me as a writer. It’s from the last chapter of Ecclesiastes. Solomon says:
But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. Ecclesiastes 12:12-13
As I read that passage, I was struck by the words, “Be careful, for writing books is endless…”
Uh, can I get an AMEN on that one?
It seems our work is never done, doesn’t it? There’s always another book to write, another article to submit, another devotion to share. Let’s face it, we never finish. As a matter of fact, I told someone today that unless I have something specifically planned, if I’m awake, I’m working…because writing books and articles and blog posts and devotions is endless.
Is he saying we’re not supposed to write?
Of course, further study helped me see that Solomon was most likely saying something like, “Don’t add to this book. Somebody’s always got another idea. Don’t study a bunch of other people’s opinions. Books are a dime a dozen and everybody thinks he’s got the answer. Instead of wasting your time chasing after every new concept, remember that everything comes back to this: Fear God and obey His commands.”
So even though we often know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has given us something to say, we must always remember that the truth is still the truth. The whole story is this:
Jesus is God’s Son.
We are sinners.
We can’t be good enough to get to heaven on our own.
We need a Savior.
That Savior is Jesus.
He is the sacrifice for our sin.
He took the punishment we deserve.
Studying and chasing after anything beyond His truth will only wear us out.
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
Read entire post »
