Psalm 112:1-3
The promises of God are plentiful to those who obey God’s commands. In fact it is a delight to serve God. Yet there are those who view serving God as some kind of slavery and servitude and imagine it a joyless existence.
There is fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord. In the words of Psalmist in Psalm 84:10-12:
“A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.”
Psalms 84:10-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.84.10-12.NLT
The Lord withholds no good thing from those who do right.
Sometimes we refer to life as a “rat race” which is a metaphor used to describe the endless competitive toil and pursuit of things that in the end have no meaning. It seems appropriate to me that I am writing this as we celebrate Labor Day where we take a break from the rat race ? Take time to reflect on the meaning and purpose of all of your toil. What is the prize you are after?
This is not all there is. The ultimate prize of eternal life still awaits us and yet there are those who live life with no such thought or live in active denial of that thought.
The Apostle Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 15:
“And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.”
1 Corinthians 15:30-34 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.15.30-34.NLT
Everyone is born with these questions- “Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going?” These question are meant to spur us in our search for Christ.
Solomon in his search said of the “rat race”:
““Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”…….That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.”
Ecclesiastes 12:8, 13-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/ecc.12.8-14.NLT
I have settled the question of my existence. I know where I came from, and I have a better understanding of why I am here and where I am going because of Christ. My life has purpose. So does yours, but purpose can only be found in Christ.
As Psalm 144:15 states:
“Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.”
Psalms 144:15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.144.15.NLT
Amen!
There is fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord. In the words of Psalmist in Psalm 84:10-12:
“A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.”
Psalms 84:10-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.84.10-12.NLT
The Lord withholds no good thing from those who do right.
Sometimes we refer to life as a “rat race” which is a metaphor used to describe the endless competitive toil and pursuit of things that in the end have no meaning. It seems appropriate to me that I am writing this as we celebrate Labor Day where we take a break from the rat race ? Take time to reflect on the meaning and purpose of all of your toil. What is the prize you are after?
This is not all there is. The ultimate prize of eternal life still awaits us and yet there are those who live life with no such thought or live in active denial of that thought.
The Apostle Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 15:
“And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.”
1 Corinthians 15:30-34 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.15.30-34.NLT
Everyone is born with these questions- “Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going?” These question are meant to spur us in our search for Christ.
Solomon in his search said of the “rat race”:
““Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”…….That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.”
Ecclesiastes 12:8, 13-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/ecc.12.8-14.NLT
I have settled the question of my existence. I know where I came from, and I have a better understanding of why I am here and where I am going because of Christ. My life has purpose. So does yours, but purpose can only be found in Christ.
As Psalm 144:15 states:
“Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.”
Psalms 144:15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.144.15.NLT
Amen!
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