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August 11, 2009
The End of it All
Making sense of the "Hard" life |
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Greetings!
This past week, I had encounters with some folks that simply can't seem to find the rhythm of God's grace in life. It seemed every turn of their life was a wrong turn or a dead end. The hopelessness and toil of their ways was wearisome and discouraging. At many points in the journey I, or others, would offer to lighten the load but the offer would be met with excuses or apathy. Soon, they had me questioning, "why ... why can't they see God in this and find peace ... why are they making life so hard?"
Some people can make life much harder than it is. Others have a knack for making life easier than it is. I seem to take the lighter approach but can, and often do, make life harder than it needs to be. Why? What is this struggle in our humanity that asks a question that cannot be answered except by God yet looks for answers everywhere else?
Our Champions Men's Discipleship has a motto - life is hard ... train to win. We say this because it is true. Life may not always be hard but it can be, and usually is, for a follower of Jesus. You see, we are called to live differently and to rise above the muck and mire of this world to a life that models that of King Jesus! This call and duty is the source of life's hardness not some extenuating force or factor in our worldly walk. No, our life is hard because we choose NOT to follow the crowd. We are rebels. Rebels with a cause!
If you want to be like everyone else, make life harder than it needs to be and follow the crowd. If you want to be a rebel with a cause follow Jesus and find the unmatchable rhythm of God's grace in your life.
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Making Sense of it All
9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright-words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
~ Ecclesiated 12:9-14 ~ |
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The Conclusion of the Matter!
Solomon penned a incredibly jumbled and provoking work in Ecclesiastes. He seemed to write from the "life is hard ... let's make it harder" camp. His writings waver from disgust with life's insanity to enjoyment of life to the fullest. Finally, in the last five verses he finds rhythm and declares the simple nature of life ... Fear God and Keep His commandments!
Solomon is said to be the wisest ruler that has ever lived. I think much of this is derived from a life plan that was clear and precise - fear God and keep His commandments. Our life plan, provided by Jesus, is equally precise and clear and it is to "love God and love people" (Matthew 22:36-39). The difficulty is not in the plan but in the living "out" of the plan.
Life is hard not because God desires us to have a difficult and burdened walk but due to sin. We are people prone to wander from our God. We are people that have a tendency to put other things before God and ourselves above other people. Truth is ... life is hard because we don't always love God with all of our heart, mind and soul and we don't always love people.
Solomon had it right when he kept it simple. After 12 chapters of mind wrestling and confusion he saw the clarity of a life with God. You and I get it right when we keep it simple. Life is hard so we train to win and we win when we focus our time, talent and treasure on loving God and loving people. Keep it simple this week and allow the rhythm of God's amazing grace to feed your soul.
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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