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Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-2

Love righteousness, you who judge on the earth.
Think about the Lord in goodness
And seek Him with sincerity of heart;
Because He is found by those who do not tempt Him,
And He is manifest to those who do not disbelieve Him.

Encouraging Words

God does not play hide and seek with us. It is usually us who are hiding from Him. If we seek Hin with a sincere heart, He will open our eyes and reveal Himself to us. If we believe in Him and do what He asks us to do, His presence in our lives will be manifested. He loves us and desires that we love Him and live for Him. Glory be to God!

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God
And keep His commandments,
For this is the whole man.
For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including everything that has been overlooked,
Whether it be good or evil.

Personal Challenge

We were all created in the image of God. We have a bit of Him in every one of us. So, does it not make sense to fear Him, to hold Him in great awe and respect, to be willing to let Him manifest Himself within us as much as possible. This fear, or respect, should lead us to keep His commandments and expectations of us. We do this because we love Him and desire to please Him. We also do this because we know that our every thought, action, and inaction will someday be brought to light, not to punish us, but to show us and all around us how much we need Him, His love, His mercy, and His grace. Glory be to God!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For there is not a second one to help him up!
If two lie down together, both stay warm,
But how can one stay warm alone?
If one is added strength, two will stand before him,
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Personal Challenge

Another outcome of living in a culture that is built upon the worship of the self-made person is the belief that we don’t need anyone else in our lives. This has created a world filled with lonely people. We do need each other. Sometimes that other person just provides friendship, someone that we can share our successes and excitement with. Sometimes that person is a beacon in our lives showing us the right way to go. Sometimes they provide discipline and correction to shake us out of our error. We need each other and we need to stop going through life alone. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Ecclesiastes 3:4-8, 11

A time to weep
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn
And a time to dance.
A time to throw stones
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace
And a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to seek
And a time to lose;
A time to keep
And a time to throw away.
A time to tear
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silent
And a time to speak.
A time to love
And a time to hate;
A time of war
And a time of peace.
…
He made everything beautiful in its time, and He indeed put eternity in their hearts in such a way that man may not find out the work God made from the beginning to the end.

Personal Challenge

So many of us nowadays live in the moment, looking for instant gratification or recognition. We have become very short-sighted people by taking our eyes off of eternity. It is in eternity that our salvation will be worked out by our living God. This passage in Ecclesiastes is such a good reminder that life happens. Sometimes that life is exciting and wonderful. Sometimes it is hard and devastating. What stays wonderful through it all is that God still holds us in the palm of His hand and desires that we include Him in all aspects of our lives. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 29:23

Arrogance humbles a man,
But the Lord supports the humble-minded with glory.

Personal challenge

Living in the age of the self-made person has brought us to a place where arrogance is not only accepted but in many cases, it is revered. We are reminded in the Scriptures that God prefers that we be humble-minded. We cannot love Him and our neighbor without becoming humble in relation­ship to them. We must remember that if we choose to hold on to our arrogance and put ourselves first, then we are destined to be humbled by God or another person. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron,
And a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Encouraging Words

We need others in our lives in order to grow. No person can become a better person in a vacuum. People around us teach us how to see God and grow in His image. But in order to be truly sharpened in our walk with Christ, we need one or more close friends that can speak the truth into our lives and sharpen us. Sometimes this can be painful, but it is always worth the pain. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!