Doing Life God's Way

 Ecclesiastes 1-3                1 Corinthians 6                 Psalm 134, 135                 John 13

 The opening chapters of the book of Ecclesiastes, written by Solomon David’s son and the one granted the wisdom to rule, are interesting in that the struggle is still real even from one given great wisdom. It quickly becomes clear wisdom and knowing right from wrong doesn’t mean that making correct decisions is easy. His determination is that there is nothing new under the sun as he looked back and he saw no hope the things would be different going forward.

 Even as his wisdom grew he realized the grief that came wit that wisdom because increasing knowledge results in increasing pain. This was the man who built a great temple, palaces and a great kingdom but it became a burden for him. After all that he calls all he has done vanity and striving after the wind and there was no profit to it. The seeking for the glory of people ended up empty. He notes that living to build an earthly kingdom ends in leaving it for someone else.

 The well-know chapter 3 about a time for everything, and asking what profit is there when we seek so many of these things. He comes to recognize that there is noting better than doing good in a lifetime and in the end all the labor is a gift from God. In the end we can give thanks to God for everything and worship him.

 1 Corinthians 6 challenges the early church to deal with  conflict inside the church. It is not the laws of man we should be worried about but the laws of God. When we follow the Lord we are blessed by the Holy Spirit.

 Psalm 134 and 135 give us the opportunity to praise the Lord with our whole life.

 John 13 records one of the most powerful stories in the gospels. Beginning with the gathering for the Passover celebration in the upper room with the disciples Jesus begins by taking on the role of a servant and washing the feet of the disciples. This includes Judas, who will betray him that will lead to his arrest. Sometimes we only want to serve those that are like us or we agree with, are worthy of our service.

 Jesus then challenges the disciples to be like him and do what he has done, first for one another and then for the rest of the world. He has set an example to become a part of the church to come. We have to be able become like Jesus.

 The most challenging part of this is the relationship with Judas. First he washes his feet and then shares the bread with him. It is the bread that is the signal that he is the one who will betray him. I can’t help but be reminded when I break bread that my sin too breaks the heart of God and that the blood yet to be offered covers us as well.

 Throughout today’s reading I was reminded that the struggle between good and evil is real and ongoing. The challenge today is to focus on doing what God wants us to do and not what we want God to wants us to do.