A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God
TO PONDER
Eat, drink and be merry! This is a phrase that many Christians don't like to associate with as the 'merry' has connotations of drunkenness. It is a phrase you often hear around the Christmas season where people can get tangled in the web of festivities; eating and drinking too much.
Today's text instructs us to ….eat and drink and find satisfaction in our own toil.
The message in verse 24 is provided in the context that all we do can seem meaningless, particularly where our toil is primarily to accumulate income and possessions in this life. We are all familiar with the phrase 'you cannot take it with you'.
As Christian's however, all that we do should be done for the glory of God and to help grow his Kingdom here on earth. Our own personal assets and positions, together with the different talents and skill-sets we have (earthly treasures) are indeed gifts from God that we need to use and share in a 'God-like' fashion. Hence if our focus is indeed mirrored on being 'Christ-like' in everything we do and say, then we can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in our own toil.
Reflect on your toil of recent days and how you can be satisfied in what you did. How might it have pleased God?
PRAYER:Heavenly Father. Help me to live a 'Christ-like' life centred on you so I can eat and drink and find satisfaction in my toil for you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
TO PONDER
I know this verse comes fro the Old Testament. I know this verse predates Jesus incarnation, death, and resurrection. And yet it is in Jesus where God has shown us, more clearly than anywhere else what he wants of us.
Don't you think acting justly, showing mercy, and walking in humility in the will of God the Father, would be three defining traits or characteristics one might use to describe Jesus?
I know the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets and merchandise kind of fell out of favour in the early 2000's, and probably for good reason. And yet, there is something to the idea of stopping in a moment of decision and taking time to think about what Jesus would do, or rather, what Jesus would have you do in that moment.
The great thing is that the more we stop to do it, the more naturally we find ourselves automatically responding in a Christlike way. Before long, responding like Jesus becomes our default position and others have the opportunity to see Christ, more clearly in and through us.
So, act rightly and justly, love and embrace every opportunity to show mercy and forgiveness, and walk humbly in the Will of God for you and your life, and just see what God can do with a life lived like that.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. You have made it perfectly clear, in your word and also through your son Jesus, what life as your child is supposed to look like. I ask your forgiveness for the times when I have made it look like something else and also ask that you would help me to act justly, show mercy, and walk humbly with you each day. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse.
TO PONDER
This kind of wisdom seems to have been lost to many people in developed western countries and cultures. We seem to be increasingly enamoured by those who make it big in the world of business, despite the number of people they might have taken advantage of along the way. We seem to spend a lot of time as a society (generally speaking) scrolling on our phones listening to those who have a large social media following, simply because they found a way to get paid for having an opinion.
Our television screens are full of shows like, 'The Real Housewives of...' franchise or 'Love Island', or even 'Survivor', which ultimately encourage their participants to stab one another in the back and to create as much drama as possible by acting towards one another in ways that none of us would welcome or tolerate in our own home or families (at least I hope we wouldn't).
Our society seems to be increasingly happy to idolise and look up to immoral and perverse behaviour, and looks at those of us who still want to live acording to and upholding the teachings of Jesus simply as old fashioned killjoys, who just don't know how to have a good time.
But if that's how your life as a Christian feels to you, then I don't think you're doing it right. Sure, there are times when walking the way of Jesus is hard, we should expect that, he said that it would be. And yet, there is also great freedom in walking through life as a disciple of Jesus. There is freedom to experience life in a different way. Not where we do whatever we want, but where we get to be who we were supposed to be, when we experience life the way it was meant to be experienced, in it's fulness and within the parameters in which we were designed to experience it, in a relationship with the one true and living God. That is not a dull life, if you earnestly seek to follow the plans God has for you each day, it can be a life of adventure and mind-blowing encounters of God at work in the world at almost every turn.
PRAYER:Lord God, I know that I often wake up and set off to achieve my own plans for the day. Right now, I place my day in your hands and ask that you would help me see your agenda for my day and help me to walk in it and see you at work in and through my life. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
TO PONDER
One of the things that makes me most frustrated as a Christian, is when I see other Christians behaving badly. Part of me thinks that if you are going to put a 'Jesus fish' bumper sticker on your car, then you really should be prepared to act like Jesus behind the wheel. If you participate online in 'christian' forums and social media debates, then your words had better sound like Jesus and show his love and compassion rather than joining in with the judgemental attitudes that are usually presented in such places.
That kind of bad behaviour, and others like it, really get me fired up because it actually gives people reasons to dismiss and distrust Christians as hypocrites, people who say or believe one thing, but behave another way entirely.
Jesus also had a problem with hypocrites and it might not surprise you to know that most of the people he labelled hypoccrites were those who held positions of authority within the Jewish faith; the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and Teacher of the Law.
I think Paul, writing this letter to Titus, has sound advice still for us today. Don't let your behaviour discredit Jesus and those who follow him. If you are going to talk the talk, you also need to walk the walk, or no one will believe a word you say. However, when our words and actions match up with each other, then those who want to oppose us will be the ones finding they don't really have a leg to stand on.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you came down from heaven and not only taught us about the kingdom of heaven, but you showed it to us in the way you lived and died for others. Please help my life to match up with what I say and believe, so that I can be a credible witness to your work in my life. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.
TO PONDER
The words of today's verse are words of Job to some of his so called 'friends', who are convinced that the calamity that has befallen Job must be the result of some wrongdoing that Job has committed against God. And yet, Job, having a clear conscience, insists they are wrong and he steadfastly maintains his innocence.
Integrity is a great tool against the accusations of the evil one. throughout the history of Christendom, the devil has often been called, "the accuser". We all know how an accusation makes us feel when we know it is correct. We feel a pang of guilt, maybe even shame and we can't help but acknowledge the reality of it.
It's a different story when the accusations are false though, isn't it. If someone accuses us of something we know we have not done, we usually respond with some form of righteous indignation, not unlike Job in today's verse.
When we regularly act with integrity, we minimise the ammunition that the accuser has to throw at us. Even if he does find a little mud to sling your way, it is easier to deal with. but I know plenty of Christians, who are buried under such a huge pile of accusations, that even the message of Jesus grace and forgiveness can sometimes have a hard time being heard under all the lies and accusations that have stuck and taken hold over the years. It's not uncommon to have conversations with Christians who, close to death, doubt their own salvation and want one last opportunity to confess their sins. They say things like, "pastor, you don't know the terrible things I have done, how can I be sure God has forgiven me?"
Our own integrity can help minimise this effect, but at moments like this, the real antidote is the faithfulness and integrity of God who promises that those who put their faith and trust in his Son, WILL be saved. God does not go back on his promises. If God has promised it, it must be true. No matter how many accusations have stuck to us in our lifetime, The promise of God is that he will remove our transgressions from us - as far as the East is from the West.
There is therefore now no condemnation, for those who are in Christ Jesus. The devil will undoubtedly still look for and find chinks in your integrity and try to burden and condemn you for them. Remember that in Jesus, none of those accusations will condemn you for you are his.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me always to know that even when I fail to live the way you have set for me, that your grace and mercy enables me to get back up and keep moving and not to be buried under the accusations and guilt that the accuser might throw my way. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
TO PONDER
The Disney movie, "The Lion King" is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and it was on television just this past weekend. I was watching it with my children and in the buildup to the final climactic scenes when Simba returns to Pride Rock to take the crown from his evil uncle Scar, I commented, "This is my favourite part of the movie, I love it when the bad guy gets what's coming to him!" My children all looked at me and I had a moment to realise that's probably my favourite part of every movie that has a bad guy. The more poetic the justice or revenge, the better.
The problem is, life rarely works out like the movies does it? It can often seem like the 'bad guys' get away with things and injustice seems to reign supreme. It can be really tempting at times to join them in taking advantage of the people or situations around you to advance your own agenda, even at the expense of others. Today's verse reminds us though that the ultimate end for the unfaithful and duplicitous is destruction.
We may not see God's justice done on this side of eternity, but we can know and trust that God's justice will reign and that those who put their trust in him will ultimately come out on top when Jesus returns as judge.
Let integrity guide you. It may not always lead to riches or fame, but it does help keep you on the path that leads to eternal life. And when your own integrity is not enough, call out to Jesus and trust in him with all your heart, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Help me to not act judgementally towards others or to be tempted to join them in their deceitful ways. Help me to take comfort knowing that you are the ultimate judge and that justice is in your hands. May that knowledge make me free to show your love and compassion to all people, even those who hurt me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
TO PONDER
In our house we have taken to talking to our kids about integrity as, 'doing the right thing, even when you think no one is looking.' There certainly is an element of that when it comes to integrity. If you are going to have integrity you can't be one think in public and then another in your private life.
Daniel takes this one step further. Daniel keeps doing things 'just as he had done before' even though the circumstances have changed and even though his prayers to God could have him thrown to the lions. Not only that, Daniel makes sure to keep doing things 'just as he had done before'. He didn't hide his prayers, he was the same in public even though it was likely to get him killed.
In Australia today, it's not likely that your faith in Jesus is going to get you killed, and yet I hear people all the time make excuses about their participation in church or any faith community. Maybe it is their kid's sporting commitments and it's too hard to explain to the coach why you wont be at the game on Sunday morning. Maybe it's saying no to the Sunday brunch with friends and being bold enough to tell them you'll be going to church and maybe even inviting them along? Believe me, I get it. Even now, after being a pastor for nearly 6 years, many of my friends and even some family, don't seem to remember or understand, that I am simply not available on Sunday mornings.
Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is looking, but more than that, it is doing the right thing when they are watching even if it means negative consequences. After all Jesus did the right thing. It cost him is life, but it gave you yours. So what are you going to do with it?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that you died on the cross and gave your life for me. Please forgive me when I fail to do the right thing because of the fear of others. Help me to be confident in you and to life each moment knowing that you are with me and will see me through, even in the face of the lions. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.
I will not look with approval on anything that is vile.
I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.
TO PONDER
I heard a sermon, preached by the late Tim Keller, talking about the joy that the psalmists often talk about that comes from obedience to and seeking after the Law of the Lord.
It seems strange to our modern thinking, as we have become used to the idea of ultimate freedom being about the complete removal of restrictions; and yet there is something about authenticity and integrity that requires us to live according to our nature.
Tim Keller shared the illustration of a young kid who had been to have a play at a friend's house where they had a new baby kitten. They played with the kitten on the lounge room rug and it interacted with them and they all had a lot of fun. A couple of weeks later, at another friend's house, they play with a dog, and after that visit the young boy asks his mum, "Why do we not have any pets? Could I have a pet?"
The boys parents consider his request and decide that goldfish are probably not a bad option for a first pet. So, while the boy is at school they set up an aquarium in his room, treat all the water and release three goldfish into the tank. On arriving home the boy sees the fish and is over the moon, so mum and dad leave him to watch the fish and give them names.
After about an hour, the boy comes out of the room looking a little dejected. His mum asks him, 'What's wrong sweetheart, do you not like your new pets?"
To which the boy replied, "They were fun for the first few minutes. They jumped around and played with me on the rug for a while, but the they just wanted to sleep."
The fish, needed the restrictions of the aquarium in order to thrive. They may have had more choices outside of the tank, but they did not have the capacity within themselves to handle that kind of freedom.
We can have unlimited freedom too. We can choose to do the things everyone else is doing. We can lie, steal, and cheat or get involved in all sorts of unhealthy behaviour. But if we really want to live life to it's fullest, then we live it with integrity, recognising the boundaries that make life worth living and we do all we can to stay inside them.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you were always obedient to the will of the Father. You always lived within the boundaries that define our human existence, and because of your life, death and resurrection, now I also can live. Help me to remember and recognise the goodness of my limitations and to reach out to you when I do not think I am enough. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
TO PONDER
How well can you share? How easy is it for you to share stuff? When I’m given a gift such as a bottle of wine or a Darrell Lee box of Rocky Road or Chocolate bullets, my first response to the giver is ‘do I have to share it’?
Sharing is one of those things in life that needs to be taught. It is an important lesson when bringing up children. The early church did it well. Even those who were not followers of The Way were amazed by the generosity of this new movement. They commented on how generous this group of people were to the poor.
How about this idea for generosity? When you are replacing something that might not really need replacing – but you will anyway, because it’s better than the one you have – why not give the new item away, and be satisfied with the older item? It’s not actually sharing the item but sharing your thoughts. It’s sharing your philosophy. It’s sharing the love we’ve been given.
You don’t have too of course. As children of God, you don’t have to do anything…but hopefully, you will want to. Because of the sacrifice God made for us, we have the opportunity to share…or give stuff away.
PRAYER: Sometimes Lord, we find it difficult to share. We find it hard to give things away. Help us to see those who could use what we have – and prompt us to share it with them. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping