All is Vanity
4/11/2025
“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 ESV). This is the constant theme throughout the book of Ecclesiastes as King Solomon meditates upon the world around him and the transient nature of earthly things. Just as the vapor at the bottom of a waterfall quickly disperses and is no more, so too are the temporal things of this world. At the end of the book he concludes that we’re to “fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (12:13–14). Since worldly things are a mere vapor, here and gone in a moment, we should focus our attention on the things of the Lord.
These words are no less relevant today than they were when Solomon first spoke them. As Christians, we’re exiles wandering through the wilderness of this world, awaiting the day when Jesus will return and bring us into the promised land of the New Heaven and Earth (Revelation 21:1). Until that day, how will we live our lives? Will we spend our limited time on this earth in the pursuit of vanity, or will we pursue the things of the Lord and store up heavenly treasures that last forever (Matthew 6:20)? How long has it been since you’ve stopped everything you were doing to pray to the Lord? How long has it been since you’ve set down the smart phone and opened His Word? How long has it been since you’ve shared the message of Jesus with someone? How long has it been since you’ve meditated upon the glorious gift of salvation that you have as a Christian? I think for many of us, we would answer that it’s been far too long. Lord, help us to let go of this world and cling to you!
God-Fearing Wisdom
4/4/2025
The book of Proverbs is concerned with the question of wisdom and contains practical insights into living a wise and godly life. As I read the first of these 31 proverbs, one verse in particular stood out to me. Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (ESV). What a fitting way to begin the book, with a reminder that true understanding begins with our relationship with God.
What does it mean to fear the Lord? First of all, let’s consider what fear means. This word is usually understood as what we feel when we encounter unknown and unpredictable circumstances in our lives. This could be sickness and death, job loss, financial struggles, public speaking, starting a new job, walking across the street in busy traffic, or climbing a ladder. But what does it mean to fear the Lord? This type of fear isn’t so much a feeling as it is a recognition of and submission to the Creator and Sustainer of the universe who is perfect in power and holiness. It’s an understanding that we are finite while God is infinite. It’s a humble acknowledgement of our feeble condition, that all that we have is owed to God, and that He alone is worthy of our reverence, worship, and obedience.
Why is a fear of God foundational to our pursuit of knowledge? It should be noted that the knowledge in view here is related to the things of God and how to live a life characterized by holiness, virtue, and wisdom. One reason why we begin with a fear of God is because He is the ultimate standard upon which we base any idea of right and wrong. The goodness, truthfulness, and beauty of anything needs to be measured against the ultimate Standard, God himself. Since this is the case, any pursuit of knowledge as we seek to rightfully order our lives needs to begin with an understanding of who God is and that He is the arbiter and definition of truth.
A second reason the pursuit of knowledge needs to begin with a fear of God is because of who we are as fallen creatures. As creatures, our minds are finite and limited in their capacities. Not only that, but our thinking has also been tainted by the effects of sin. We are feeble and sinful creatures while God is the all-powerful and sinless Creator, perfect in all His attributes. The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthian church about reliance on the wisdom of man.
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” (1 Corinthians 3:18–20)
God’s wisdom is so great that any so-called wisdom of man is described as foolishness in the eyes of the Lord. We often tend to over-evaluate ourselves and think much too highly of our own intellectual contributions. Paul’s words are a much needed reminder to avoid a prideful reliance on one’s human and worldly wisdom. True wisdom, that which begins with a fear of the Lord, will appear as foolishness to those of the world, those who are unable and unwilling to comprehend the things of God. Never forget that true wisdom and knowledge begins with a reverent fear of our all-powerful and all-knowing God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
With Every breath!
3/21/2025
If you open your Bibles right down the middle, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself in the Psalms. This was Israel’s hymnbook, a collection of 150 songs, prayers, praises, and laments that the Psalmists brought before the Lord. No matter the season, whether in times of rejoicing or weeping, there was a Psalm that Israel could turn to. As inspired Scripture, the Psalms are no less relevant than they were thousands of years ago.
Let’s turn to the very last verse in the Psalms. There we read, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150:6 ESV). What a fitting way to end the book, this great proclamation of the praise that all creation is called to bring before the Lord. If you have breath in your lungs sing praises to your God because He is the God who powerfully spoke this world into existence. He is the God of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the God who led Israel out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and into the Promised Land. He is the God who was faithful to His people despite their faithlessness and restored them back to their land after 70 years of Babylonian exile. He is the God who promised to send a Redeemer to save His people from their sins. He is the God who fulfilled that promise in the person of His son Jesus Christ who died on a Roman cross and rose again on the third day, accomplishing salvation for those who place their faith in Him. He is the God who graciously bestows on every believer an eternal inheritance with Him in glory forever. How could we not praise our God?!
When we look at the story of the Bible and reflect upon God’s providential care in our own lives, we see quite literally countless reasons to praise the Lord. No matter the season or trial, in good times or in bad, to your very last breath, sing praises to the Lord!
Our Creator God
3/14/2025
The first chapter of Genesis gives us the story of creation, when God created the universe in six literal days. If you’re like me, then this is one of your favorite passages of Scripture. Out of a sheer act of His power, God spoke the universe into existence. This truth permeates the rest of Scripture and gives us a grounding upon which to live our lives. Genesis 1:1 tells us that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (ESV). The world that we see around us is no cosmic accident but finds its source in our all-powerful and perfectly wise God.
Since this devotional is on the book of Job, you may be wondering why we’re talking about the creation account. That’s because in Job 38-41, we have one of the most vivid pictures in all of Scripture of God as Creator and Upholder of all things. As God speaks to Job, He reminds him of this truth and that the creature can never compare to the infinite power and wisdom of the Creator God.
Although I’d recommend reading this entire section of Job (chapter 41 may even describe a dragon), let’s start by looking at Job 38:4–7.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
There’s no doubt that it was the triune God who created the universe. Both Scripture and creation itself loudly declare this truth. The presence of intelligent design requires an intelligent designer, someone who existed from eternity past and is responsible for the world that we see today. That person is God. Creation was no accident, and that means that you are no accident. It wasn’t millions of years of evolutionary processes that brought you into this world. Rather, you were created by God and in His image for the special purpose of glorifying Him. Praise the Lord!
The Courage of a Queen
3/7/2025
A while back we read about a woman named Ruth who demonstrated great courage and faithfulness despite being in a foreign land far from home. Today we’re going to look at a similar woman named Esther. As an exiled Jew, she too was far from home, and like Ruth, would demonstrate remarkable courage in the face of adversity. Although I’d encourage you to read the entire book of Esther, the story goes something like this.
There was a king named Ahasuerus who had put away his former queen and now held a contest of sorts to decide who the next queen would be. Esther, a young Jewish woman who had been raised by her cousin Mordecai, was chosen for this great honor. But conflict quickly arose when an official named Haman took offense at Mordecai’s unwillingness to bow in his presence. Out of his fury against Mordecai, Haman formed a plot to destroy the Jews throughout the kingdom. When Mordecai learned of this, he was grieved and pleaded with Esther (now the queen) to go before the king to save their people. Let’s read part of this dialogue.
Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:13–16 ESV)
What a display of faith from both Mordecai and Esther! Mordecai knows that God may have placed Esther in the position of queen for the purpose of saving His people from destruction. Esther demonstrates her own faith by courageously moving forward with the plan despite the great peril she may face as a result. If we were to fast forward through the narrative, we would see that the king responds favorably to Esther’s request. He proceeds to hang evil Hamon on the very gallows that Hamon had built for Mordecai and permits the Jews to defend themselves against the enemies that Hamon had incited against them.
Although we might have a tough time relating to Esther’s exact circumstances (an exile turned queen turned heroic deliverer of her people), we still see God working in similar ways today. Just as Mordecai recognized how God may have been working through Esther’s unique circumstances, we should remember that God can and does do the same for us, even if we don’t always know how. If you ever find yourself looking around at your life, discouraged and wondering why you’re in the place you are, remember that God hasn’t forgotten you. You’ve been placed where you’re at for a purpose, even if the reasons are not always obvious. No matter the season or trial you’re going through, remain faithful to God and committed to the plan that He has for you, even if you don’t yet know what that plan is. Faithfulness is always worth it!