I think I need to clarify some more. I need to build on what was in yesterday’s discussion. The discussion was in regard to not judging–finding no condemnation. What does that look like?

The church should be a place of refuge. It should be a place filled with people who are filled with the love of Christ, the One who did not judge others nor find condemnation in their past. Jesus looked at those with the dark past, the skeleton in the closet, and found–get this–compassion.

He looked at them and saw what they could be, not where they were. He saw them as people, not a statistic, not as a project, not as a charity, and not as a ministry!

Is it that way today? Don’t we have a tendency to label more than we love? We have to change. We have to look beyond what is face value. We have to look beyond the person’s past and see THE PERSON!

What would it take to see beyond the man’s adultery? To see the woman and not the pregnancy or the abortion? Even as you read those three words, your mind and emotions reacted. Something came to your mind. The question though, is what is your answer? When faced with that moment, what would you say? Could you show love the way that we are called to love? Could you look at him and offer him the friendship he needs? Could you look at her and see the pain she carries through your own opinions? Her hurt goes so much deeper than any pity you may have. Jesus knew that.

In Romans 8, we have a great example.

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

 11 “No, Lord,” she said.

   And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

It’s obvious, but it’s also not that easy, is it? It is time to go a little deeper.

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When I was growing up, there was one thing that I knew at an early age, and that was you were expected to work hard. No one took it easy, at least very often. I was surrounded by hard workers, and I was expected to do the same. There’s something to be said about a job well done, and it feels great to finish. I wonder about those who don’t work hard. Solomon has a word for those; “foolish.”

In Ecclesiastes 10, Solomon gives us a few words of wisdom (of course) for parents, as well as those in leadership positions. He says that the foolish are easy to spot, and that they can ruin a lot of things that the wise have worked hard to accomplish.

In verses 1-3, he says,
1 As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink,
so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.

3 You can identify fools
just by the way they walk down the street!

At first thought, I wondered if it was rue that the foolish wwere so easy spot. I think, at times, it is. Of course, if you watch the news you see it nightly. But then there are those times that your spirit tells you, warns you, that you are around or dealing with someone who is foolish. I pray that I don’t have to deal with that when my daughter one day introduces me to her boyfriend!

On the leadership side, certainly there are times that we have to deal with those who are less motivated than we want them to be. In verse 15, Solomon puts it this way,
“Fools are so exhausted by a little work
that they can’t even find their way home.”

Again, I go back to my childhood. I was raised knowing what hard work was, and I honestly believe that is a rarity in today’s society. There aren’t many I have found that come into the “real world” with an understanding of how to work. That falls on us parents.

There’s something to be said about experience and qualifications. Too many people believe God is just going to give them the six-figure income and corner office, for no other reason than being themselves! As leaders, we need to make sure that we are choosing and making wise decisions on those we put into leadership positions. As parents, we need to choose wisely when it comes to rewarding our children.

Solomon actually admonishes those things he had witnessed up to that point. In verse 5-6, he says
“

There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake 6 when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth.”

See exactly how Solomon describes this? He says it’s “evil.” He says it’s a “grave mistake” when the wrong people are in the wrong places. It’s a mistake to just put people or reward people with position, status, or any other form of award without merit. This is much different from blessing someone who has a need in their life. What Solomon is referring to here is that “good old boy” network, or illegal kickbacks and preferences.

We have a lot to consider! Solomon has definitely challenged us as parents, leaders, managers, or wherever we are in life. If it’s dealing with coworkers, employees, or our kids, he has given us some words to teach.

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Solomon was the wisest of us all, of all who have ever ruled or lived. As I go through Ecclesiastes, I have learned more and more. In chapter 7, he writes things that aim straight for our hearts—even today.

In the course of my life, I have heard both the praise and the complaints about me and things directed toward me. I have had it delivered to my ears in many different ways, and with many different intentions. What I have learned, though, is that no matter how it is brought, what is said, or anything else, I need to consider the source. When I consider the source, I must take into consideration whether or not that person is wise or otherwise.

Ecclesiastes 7:5-6, Solomon writes,

“5 Better to be criticized by a wise person
than to be praised by a fool.
6 A fool’s laughter is quickly gone,
like thorns crackling in a fire.
This also is meaningless.”

In verse 8, Solomon speaks directly to us about issues that are so prevalent amongst those of us called to be leaders (dad, mom, leader, director, manager, teacher). Solomon writes this,

“8 Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.

Some may argue that the toughest part of trying to accomplish something is to actually start, not to finish. I would argue that isn’t true. As leaders, our strength should already be in starting something. The toughest part is finishing it. It’s not about being able to start it, it’s about being able to keep going when everyone starts to push back, when the resistance is strong, when the going gets tough. That’s where we need the resolve. Finishing is better.

To get there we need wisdom. That’s something you need to pray for and about. Even Solomon, the wisest of the wise, said that in verse 24, “24 Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.” We can look for wisdom, but it is almost impossible to find. In verse 25, Solomon expressed it this way,

“25 I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.”

That’s why I say we have to pray for it and ask for it. It’s not something we just “find” somewhere, or get in a self-help book. It’s too hard to find. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t seek wise counsel. Don’t misunderstand that. We all need someone who can speak wisdom into our lives, and we should seek that out. We just can’t seek it in that way alone. That’s wisdom for our lives.

Prayer: “My Lord, my God, I realize that I need You and Your wisdom. If even Solomon needed it, certainly I do, too. I need You to speak wisdom into my life, my mind, and my heart. Bring someone wise into my life that I can count on to do the same. Make me receptive to the words of the wise and indifferent to the words of the foolish. Your wisdom is what I need, to lead my family, to lead those who look to me for leadership. Help me to follow your lead. I love You, Jesus, and I ask all these things in only Your Holy, powerful name, Jesus, Amen.”

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I have struggled lately trying to figure out how to write what God has been teaching me. See, when I finished with the New Testament, God had really pressed on my mind and heart to start in the Old Testament. I wasn’t very excited. I struggle with the thought of going into the Old Testament. It has been a long time, and at times, it seems so out-of-date. God led me to Ecclesiastes of all places. And you know what? I was wrong.

Ecclesiastes is written by Solomon, the wisest and richest king who ever lived. You would think that he had some insightful, uplifting words of wisdom. Well, as I started the chapter I figured out that at this point in his life, Solomon had figured out a few things and most of them came across as, well, depressing. He starts out expressing his thoughts of how all things are meaningless, all things are depressing! It’s not what I though I was going to read.

That leads us to chapter 5, where I am now. When I hit this chapter, I realized what Solomon was getting at in this chapter. See, it’s not all about all things being meaningless; it’s all about our choices and our focus. It’s also about following through on what we say we will.

Ecclesiastes 5:7 says this:
7 “Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.”

When we make promises, they mean absolutely nothing if we don’t follow through. That’s what “talk is cheap” means. Our mouth can write checks that our will can’t cash. It’s not about what we say but what we do. Words are like the wind, like playing games. They don’t really matter. What matters is our God. And when we make promises to Him, praise Him, speak to Him; that’s when our words matter.

Our work isn’t what matters. It’s our expectations from our work. It’s our focus on the work. If our life is all about our work, then it becomes meaningless. God means for us to enjoy our work, and to find a healthy balance. Solomon puts it this way

Ecclesiastes 5:18-19

“18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.”

See, God wants us to have purpose in what we do, and that it will be fulfilling, and He does want to bless us through it. We aren’t to find our identity in it. God’s intention is that we work, work hard, and have the health to enjoy the things He gives us. See what verse 19 says? It says it’s a good thing to “receive wealth from God.” It’s not about pursuing that, but accepting it when God chooses to bless us. Solomon was someone who knew all about that. He understood.

What is your focus today? What are your words and what are they directed toward? How do you view your work? Is it all-consuming? Is it taking the place of God? Is it taking the place of your family? Or have you found the balance? Have you found the place where God wants you to be? It’s a gift from God when you do. It’s where He wants you. Meet Him there.

Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I want my focus to be on You. I want to focus on what You want for me. It’s not about work or achievement, but Your desire for my life. Help me to find that. Help me to find the place where I can live in Your blessing. You are my Provider, You are my everything. I love you, and I ask this is only Your name, Jesus, Amen.”

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Let me first say that I am very excited about today’s blog. This marks the 100th blog here at Theonelesstraveled. I look back and can’t believe it! I have been blessed beyond belief to have had the opportunity to share what God is sharing with me. For those of you who read it, I say “Thank you!” Thank you for going down this road with me. You have allowed me the opportunity to do what I believe the Lord has called me to do. Over the past year, the blog has been an outlet for me to share what God reveals to me during my devotional times. It is an honor for me to be able to share that with you. I pray that you will continue to take this journey with me, and that the Lord will speak to you through the words He gives me to give to you!

This morning God gave me some powerful insight. If you are like me, you look at what is going on in the world and wonder how much longer we can last. Surely, Jesus has to be returning soon! The earthquakes are numerous; the situation in the Middle East is, well, dangerous. The unrest and wars and battles leave little to be at peace with in any situation. I look at all of it and wonder why He hasn’t come back already. Not that I’m particularly anxious; there’s a lot that I still want to see and do. While I want to see my kids get older and graduate and get married, and all that life can offer them, I shudder to think of what the world will be like when they get there. Are you there, too? Do you look at today’s happenings and wonder what God’s plan is? Where is He?

Peter addressed this in 2 Peter 3. This was as if Peter was reading my mind today. When you hear people say that we are living in the end times, what do you think? Well, the “end times” span the first and second coming of Christ. So, since He left this Earth to take His seat next to God, we immediately began the era of the “end times.” So, when Peter talks of this time, he, too, was living in the end times. Peter explains pretty well both the time frames and the reasoning of God.

In 2 Peter 3:8, Peter says, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” See, God’s time table isn’t anything like ours. He is patient, and He is constant. He is the beginning and then end. But, if you’re like me, you know that He sees the current condition of the world. He sees the state of even the US. How many different ways has the nation failed Him? Turned its back on Him? How perverted and twisted our society is has surely made Him angry. So what is He waiting for? Why not come now and make this right?

2 Peter 3:9 is where Peter gives us the answer.

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

God isn’t late. God hasn’t forgotten. God isn’t leaving us. He is being patient. He is being merciful. He is giving everyone an opportunity. He sees what is going on around us. He sees the conflict in the world. He sees the way so many have turned their backs on Him and His ways. Because of that, He is waiting. It is not his desire that people should perish, should suffer, and should be doomed to an eternity separated from Him. That’s the last thing He wants. He gave His SON so that we would not be separated from Him. But, He also understands that there will come a time when everyone will have made a decision.

When that day comes, Peter says, it will be sudden with no second chances, and the world will be judged. In verse 10, Peter paints this picture.

“But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”

No one ever expects a thief. No one ever walks into their home expecting to see that it was robbed and ransacked. It happens suddenly, while you are away doing whatever it is that you do. It happens while you are sleeping. It is never expected. That’s what it will be like. It will be unexpected, sudden, and final.
So what are we to do? What do we do while we wait? Do we get in our “holy huddles” and stockpile water and sardines? No. We go out there and live our lives in a way that brings others to Him. We live out our faith in a way that is light in the darkness, even if it seems weird to the world. Peter’s advice here is found is verse 14.

“And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.”

Make every effort. Live a life that is peaceful and pure. Be the difference. Christ could return today, tonight, or 20 years from now. If He is being patient and waiting to give everyone an opportunity, it could be that someone you know. It could be that child, your spouse, your neighbor, your coworker, and yes, it could be you.

Prayer: “Jesus, Lord, Savior, Abba, thank You for Your patience. Thank You for the opportunity we have because of Your patience. Father, there is someone out there I know who doesn’t know You. You have placed that person in my life somehow, and I pray that You would open that door to speak truth and love into their life and heart. Help me to have that opportunity to let You speak through me to them. Father, if it is me, then I ask now that You would forgive me for the time I have been away from You. I accept You as my Savior, my Lord, my God. Help me, Jesus, to live the life that makes a difference. Help me to be a light in the darkness, and to have the courage to stand up when the world bows to lesser things. I love You, Jesus, and I ask these things in Your powerful, Holy Name, Jesus…Amen!”

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