But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Wow, it's been a long time since I posted! Too much has happened... I've never understood Song of Solomon. Today I read "Union and Communion", by Hudson Taylor, which describes the Song of Solomon as a picture of the Christian life. It's beautiful. May God lead us in a life of "abiding in Him and He in us". May He gives us the experience of unbroken fellowship and rest in Him. May He lead us in a life of constant union and communion.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lambdown the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)
Our church has been going through a sermon series on Ecclesiastes, in which the author describes his quest to find meaning in different things in life, finding them all meaningless. Ecclesiastes is one of the books that many non-Christian friends appreciate since its reflections and musings deeply resonate with the reality of life's experiences.
I was reading Thomas a Kempis' Of the Imitation of Christ, and this excerpt, I feel, does quite a good job of capturing the core message of Ecclesiastes, and was really good for me to reflect on.
What are the things that I long for? Are they temporary or eternal? Are they selfish or Christ-centered? Am I storing up treasures on earth or in heaven? I admit that oftentimes, the things I long for are "perishing riches", or "honors" and "high degree". It is also true that I oftentimes simply follow the "desires of the flesh", rather than setting my heart after those things which are true, noble, and pure.
Personally, I have definitely felt the truth that "there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end are the ways of death" (Prov 14:12), and that the life of following after Christ, though requiring much sacrifice and cross-bearing, ultimately leads to "life abundant and full", both in this life and the one to come. May God strengthen us and help us to let go of all the things that bind us and keep us from living the fruitful life he has made us to live!
"Vanity of vanities... all is vanity" (Ecc 1:2), except to love God and to serve Him only. This is the highest wisdom, by the contempt of the world to press forward toward heavenly kingdoms.
Therefore it is vanity to seek after perishing riches and to trust in them. Also it is vanity to hunt after honors and to climb to high degree. It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh and to long after that for which you must afterward suffer grievous punishment. It is vanity to wish to live long and to be careless to live well. It is vanity to mind only this present life, and not to foresee those things that are to come. It is vanity to set your love on that which speedily passes away, and not to hasten to where everlasting joy abides.
Call often to mind that proverb, "The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing" (Ecc 1:8). Endeavor therefore to withdraw your heart from the love of visible things and to turn yourself to things invisible. For they that follow their own sensuality defile their consciences and lose the grace of God.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
(Hebrews 6:19)
"Why, my soul, are you downcast?Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,for I will yet praise him,my Savior and my God."
(Psalm 42:5)
"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you."
(Psalm 39:7)
"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
(Romans 4:18)
"And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
(Romans 5:5)
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"
(1 Peter 1:3)
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"
(Matthew 6:25-27)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
