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JUNE 8, 2018 It’s OK to Work at It
Ecclesiastes 7-9 and Ephesians 4
Work at it. God is not opposed to our effort so let’s work at it. We have to work at it because effort is what it’s going to take. He is opposed to an attitude of earning, but He is not opposed to our effort. We can work at it. In Ephesians 4:3 we’re told that we are to make every effort to keep ourselves unified in the Spirit. We have to make the effort to keep ourselves. It’s so easy to lose ourselves in in our past, our regrets and our shame. But Paul says to make the effort to keep yourself. Work at it. Make the effort by throwing off those old attitudes and behaviors that lead to hopelessness. Instead, work at stepping into and training your heart in new attitudes that lead to life and hope and a future. Ephesians 4:4 says you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. But you have to work at it.
We are to make every effort to renew our mind, and thoughts and attitudes. We do that by hearing and applying the Gospel to our lives, daily. We have to work at that. We have to receive the Good News of Christ’s sufficiency, daily, by faith. We have to remind our hearts daily that his grace is sufficient for all that we face. We need to rest in his love and care for us every day. This is a worthy effort that God honors. Jesus says
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mt 7:8 NLT)
That will require effort but the strength will be His. The Spirit of Christ, living in and through us, will be the strength that enables us to work at it. The Good news of Christ will be the thing that renews our heart, mind and attitude. Then we can begin to experience that glorious hope for the future that we have in him.
JUNE 9, Light is Sweet
Ecclesiastes 10 - 12, Psalm 94 and Ephesians 5
Children of light - that is what you are. The light is sweet. How pleasant to see a new day dawning. (Eccl. 11:7) Paul wants you to see and know the sweet light of a new day. It is the Light of Christ dawning on a new day beginning in your life. The light of Christ bring a new future and destiny. His favor and kindness is there for you today. How sweet that is. A new day dawning - A new destiny - a new hope. Verse 8 says,
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
If we want to taste the sweetness of this light it’s going to take careful determination. Verse 10 says,
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
We must carefully put away the darkness of our past, regrets, shame and resentments, and determine to apply the Gospel light to our heart each day. That light comes from the Lord. Come to Jesus each day, determining that He live His life in and through you now. Through Christ we are able to find strength, encouragement and the ability to honor and prefer one another, submitting to one another and laying down our lives for one another. When we do that it will indeed be sweet and hopeful - like the dawning of a new day. The wise man of Ecclesiastes said,
Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. (Eccl 11:7 NLT)
Taste the sweetness of life in Christ. Determine to love others through the power of Christ, laying your life down in order to experience his life now.
You are loved!
