Devotionary

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Ep 462 – Ecclesiastes 2:12-26 Mar 23, 2018

Show notes

You're born. You live. You die. That just about sums up Solomon's philosophy of life. Oh, and one more thing: As long as you are alive, try and enjoy it, because that's all you get. Sounds a tad pessimistic, doesn't it? But remember, this is a man who is speaking from years of experience and a life-long commitment to finding meaning and significance in life. His life had been a quest, a persistent pursuit of that illusive and endangered species known as contentment. In Ecclesiastes 2:12-26, Solomon will delve into the frequently frustrating world of life lived on this planet. When all is said and done, the fool and the wise man end up in the same place at the end of life: Dead. It really doesn't matter how much one accomplished as compared to another. In fact, the wise man may end leaving everything he worked so hard to gain, to the poor man. It's a form of absurdity and incongruity that leaves one shaking their head in disbelief. Solomon knew that, ultimately, everything and everyone is under the divine direction of God. He is the one in control, not man. And since God determines the length of man's days on this planet, and no one gets to take what they have with them to the next life, the acquisition and accumulation of worldly goods has a temporary payoff associated with it. So, Solomon suggests that you enjoy it all while you can. It's all a vapor – here today, gone tomorrow. As long as you're alive, take advantage of each and every moment. And never forget the sobering reality that you can't take it with you.

Ep 461 – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Mar 22, 2018

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What do you give the man who has everything? Great question. What do you give the man who has the ability to buy himself anything is heart desires? In the case of Solomon, the answer would be, "Absolutely nothing." This guy was the consummate consumer, filling his home and his life with all the material things money could buy. He had palaces, vineyards and orchards, as well as musicians to entertain him and concubines to pleasure him. He had no shortage of friends and admirers. Other kings envied him. His people looked up to him. And on top of all his material possessions and royal closets filled with expensive robes and hand-crafted sandals, he had been blessed by God with unsurpassed wisdom. So, Solomon put his wisdom to use, trying to determine the true source of meaning in life. His life became one grand experiment, with him in the role of scientist, investigating and examining every possible source of significance and meaning. He explored the boundaries of physical pleasure. He tested the hypothesis that more is better. He researched the effects of wine on human emotions. He experimented with everything from personal improvement through education to legacy-building through construction. But nothing seemed to float his boat. And in Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, he's going to chronicle all his exploits and deliver his less-than-satisfactory conclusion when all was said and done: All was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Sad words that deliver a powerful message we all need to hear.

Ep 460 – Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 Mar 21, 2018

Show notes

In today's episode, we're going to cover verses 12-18 of chapter one. In this passage, Solomon is going to address three primary topics: Wisdom, madness and folly. He'll bring them up repeatedly throughout his book, describing his relentless pursuit of them and his frustrated experience with them. It is important to remember that Solomon is most likely writing this book at the end of his life, long after he has walked away from God, having succumbed to the influence of his many wives, and having erected idols to their false gods all over the nation of Israel. As he peers back over the decades, he sees some disturbing patterns and trends. He has made the pursuit of wisdom a life-long endeavor. Keep in mind, God had graciously given Solomon wisdom when he had asked, but it seems that Solomon wanted more. Greed and a tendency toward conspicuous consumption had left him with an insatiable hunger that left him constantly dissatisfied. He operated by the philosophy of more is better. More wisdom. More money. More power. More wives. More palaces. But it all proved futile and meaningless. The lie of "just a little bit more" was always followed by the sobering and disappointing reality of "enough is never enough." So, the cycle continued, day after day, decade after decade, with Solomon concluding that it's all so much chasing the wind – an exercise in futility. And yet, Solomon's dissatisfaction stemmed, not so much from a lack of money, wisdom, power or pleasure, but from failure to find his satisfaction in God.

Ep 459 – Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 Mar 20, 2018

Show notes

Today we begin a new series of podcasts on the book of Ecclesiastes, written by Solomon, the son of David and the King of Israel. Over the next weeks, we will be digging deep into the profound and sometimes pessimistic-sounding words of this man who was renowned for his wisdom and who had been blessed beyond belief by God. This is not a particularly upbeat book, but it contains some of the most practical life lessons to be found in the Scriptures. Solomon, nearing the end of his long life, is providing us with some sobering insights into what he has learned over the years. Some of it is hard to hear. But all of it is vital to our understanding the futility that can come when we live our lives without God at the center of our lives. Solomon was known for his great wisdom, but we will see that wisdom alone was not enough to keep Solomon from living like a fool at times. The wisdom provided by God, used apart from a daily dependence upon God, will not protect us from making unwise choices. And Solomon will provide us with more than a few examples from his own life. Not only that, Solomon will give us a view of the world seen through the eyes of one who has ceased to see God as the primary focus of life and the sole provider of purpose and meaning to life. Solomon had allowed the many gifts and blessings of God to take the place of God in his life. He sought to find meaning and significance from the things of this world, rather than from the One who created the world. And in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, Solomon will set the tone for his entire book with the well-known words, "What has been done is what will be done." In other words, he believed there was an inevitability to all things under the sun that robbed life of its meaning. But his perspective was skewed and his conclusion was wrong.

Ep 458 – Acts 28:23-31 Mar 19, 2018

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This episode will bring Luke's book to a close. He will wrap up his chronicle with Paul in prison in Rome and the fate of the gospel somewhat up in the air and unresolved. Luke does not tell us what happened to Paul. But according to the early church historian, Eusebius, Paul was eventually freed and allowed to continue his ministry, only to be sent back to Rome again where he was martyred. It is believed that, while in prison in Rome, Paul wrote four of his letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. After his release, he wrote what are typically referred to as his pastoral epistles. While Luke provides us no clear indication as to what happened to Paul, he does let us know that the two years Paul was held prisoner in Rome, he continued to proclaim the Kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ. Despite his imprisonment, he remained bold and fully committed to his commission. He did not shirk from the responsibilities given to him by Jesus. Captivity in Rome was not a detriment, but a blessing. Had he not been there, he might never have had time to write the letters he did. Paul was sidelined by God, destined to remain in one place for a lengthy period of time, providing him with ample opportunity to deal with the issues taking place in the many churches he had helped plant. Paul's days were numbered. He would one day pass from the scene, but the gospel would continue unhindered. Jesus had promised Peter, "I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it", and we know from personal experience, that Jesus kept that promise. The church did not die with Paul's imprisonment. It would not cease to exist when Paul breathed his last breath. The church continues to grow and prosper, against all odds.

Ep 457 – Acts 28:11-22 Mar 18, 2018

Show notes

So, Paul finally made it to Rome and Luke records this auspicious and long-awaited even in Acts 28:11-22. The interesting thing is that on two separate occasions, after having landed on Roman soil, Paul and Luke encountered groups of Christ-followers. They were not alone. The gospel had spread as far as the capital of the Roman empire. This had to have encouraged Paul greatly and reminded him once again of the sovereign plan of God. Paul had been aware of the believers in Rome for some time, having already written to them. And he had a long-standing desire to visit them. Now, his wish had come true. He was going to get the opportunity to encourage them in the faith and to help them grow strong in the Lord (See Romans 1:11-12). But Paul also made an effort to visit the synagogue in Rome, just as he had every other place he had gone on his missionary journeys. Partly, his objective was to let the Jews know why he was there and bring them up to speed about all that had transpired back in Jerusalem. They were far enough away that it's unlikely they would have known the details of all that had happened. And Paul wanted them to hear it from him first. But what Paul desired for them to know was that his chains were the direct result of his message regarding the hope of Israel. In other words, the Messiah. As he had done in so many other places when given the chance to speak with unbelieving Jews, he taught of Jesus being the Messiah. Which led him to speak of Jesus' resurrection. And this time, as he spoke in the synagogue in Rome, Paul found an eager and receptive audience.

Ep 456 – Acts 27:39-28:10 Mar 17, 2018

Show notes

Let's face it. Bad things happen to good people. We may not understand why. We may not even like that it happens, but we can't argue the fact that it's a part of life. And when we read Luke's account of Paul's journey to Rome, we can't help but notice that nothing seems to go right for this faithful servant of God. In fact, he had been warned in advance by God, that he would suffer. And God was true to His word. Everywhere Paul went, he faced opposition of all kinds, from verbal attacks to physical beatings. And even as he made his way to Rome on ship commandeered by the Romans, he still encountered trials that would make of us throw up our hands in despair and raise our voices in criticism of God. But Paul took it all in stride. In Acts 27:39-28:10, Luke provides a detailed account of Paul's seemingly ill-fated voyage and eventual shipwreck. And even when he and all the other passengers of the ship washed up on the shores of Malta alive and well, he ended up getting bitten by a poisonous snake. Even the natives of Malta thought Paul was cursed. He had survived the shipwreck but would die from a snake bite. As far as they could tell, he must have been guilty of something pretty serious because the gods were angry. But little did they know that Paul's God was anything but angry. He was simply going to use Paul as a means of revealing his power to the citizens of Malta. Even as a prisoner, Paul was still God's messenger to the Gentiles.

Ep 455 – Acts 27:21-38 Mar 16, 2018

Show notes

It's easy to be courageous when no danger or threat is imminent. Being brave is a piece of cake if you aren't staring down the proverbial barrel of a gun. But what about when things have gone south and you find yourself surrounded by circumstances that could prove disastrous, if not deadly? In Acts 27:21-38, Luke is going to provide us with just such a situation. It involves Paul, as well a host of other, unnamed characters who find themselves in a deadly predicament where loss of hope is accompanied by a real possibility of loss of life. They're on a ship in the middle of a raging storm and, as far as the men on board can determine, all is lost. But in the midst of it all, Paul will stand up and urge his fellow passengers to take heart. Basically, he will tell them to be of good cheer. They're being battered and beaten by the wind and waves, and yet Paul wants them to put on a happy face. Had he lost his mind? Was he delirious? No, he was trusting. He had received a message from an angel of God assuring him that not one single person on board the ship would die. They would have to endure a shipwreck, but they would survive, unscathed. And because Paul knew the message was from God, he knew the content of the message could be trusted. God was good for His word. And it was Paul's confidence in his God that produced courage in his heart and impacted all those around him who had lost all hope.

Ep 454 – Acts 27:1-20 Mar 15, 2018

Show notes

Have you ever felt like giving up? If we're honest, all of us have had that experience. It comes with living in a fallen world. There are those times in life when we get the urge to throw in the towel, to quit. Sometimes it's because we simply run out of steam. We get tired. Other times, we find ourselves running short on hope. Things get so tough that we don't see any way out. Which drives us to abandon all hope of things getting better. In Acts 27:1-20, Luke recalls a story when Paul was being transported by ship from Caesarea to Rome. He was on his way to stand trial before the emperor. This was a God-ordained journey that was going to place Paul in the very heart of the Roman empire, providing him with a unique opportunity to share the gospel with the world's most powerful man: Caesar. But this trip, while sanctioned by God, was not going to turn out to be a Disney cruise. This voyage was marked by lousy weather complete with typhoon-strength winds and timber-breaking waves. And even the leather-skinned sailors on board the ship reached the point where they abandoned all hope of survival. But Paul was given a word from God letting him know that, in spite of the dire circumstances, all would end well and not a soul would be lost. This trip had God's hands all over it. Yes, they would still have to endure the winds and the waves. They would end up having to abandon ship. But each and every occupant of the ship, from the sailors and soldiers to the prisoners like Paul, were miraculously saved.

Ep 453 – Acts 26:19-32 Mar 14, 2018

Show notes

When you look at the world, what do you see? More specifically, when you look at those who live in the world with you, what do you see? Do you see happy and sad people? Are some successful, while others struggle to make ends meet? Is your view of the people with whom you work, play and live restricted to external characteristics and visible attributes? If so, you're not alone. But as followers of Christ, we are to see people through a different lens. We have been given a unique, Spirit-empowered perspective that allows us to look at people as either saved or lost, redeemed or under condemnation of death. On the outside, their lives may appear free from trouble and full of joy. But as God reminded the prophet, Samuel, "People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT). And yet, as believers, we are to use our spiritual sensibilities to look beneath the surface and into the hearts of those with whom we share this planet. In Acts 26:19-23, Luke continues his record of Paul's hearing before Governor Festus and King Agrippa. And Paul will see these two men, not as powerful representatives of the Roman government, but as two lost souls in need of a Savior. He isn't trying to get out of prison, but he is trying to tell Festus and Agrippa how to escape from their captivity to sin. Paul wanted them to become like him. He was free, even though he was in chains. They were unhindered by chains and free to go where they pleased, but in reality, they were captive to sin and condemned to death. When Paul looked at them, he didn't see a governor and a king, but two men in desperate need of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

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