Tag: Ecclesiastes 3:1
Jesus understood the time!
Scripture reading for November 1st: John 7
Key Scriptures: John 7:2-8 “Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. So His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that you are doing.” For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For not even His brothers believed in Him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the Feast. I am not going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.””
According to Scripture, everything has a time and wise people recognize the appropriate time and timing of every activity. Jesus, being Wisdom from God, understood God’s plan and timing through prayer and perfect obedience to God’s Word. His earthly brothers tried to convince Jesus to go up to the Feast of Booths and do His miracles that the world might believe in Him. Jesus wisely knew that His time was not yet fully come. He must not force anything, but wait for the Father’s perfect timing and clear instructions. We would be wise to always consult God about the timing of our activities and choices. Each phase of our life is ordered by the Lord if we allow Him. God’s will and timing for us involve eternity in our hearts!
John 7:17 “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the One who seeks the glory of Him Who sent Him is true, and in Him there is no falsehood.”
Faith Confession and prayer: Father God, I invite you each day to order my steps and enable me to do Your will. I study Your Word to know Your will and timing. Give me wisdom each day to understand the time and timing of my activities, travels, and works to reach the lost and be an effective witness for Your glory!
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 “For everything there is a season, a time for every matter under heaven: . . .” “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
The time is short!
Scripture reading for July 14th: 1st Corinthians 7
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st Corinthians 7:29-31 “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”
Living for the Lord means living with a realization that the world and all it’s allurements is passing away! Christians are to live with their bags packed to leave for their heavenly home at any time. Jesus has promised to return for His people but they will not know the day or the hour. They are to live in a state of readiness and be doing what He has asked when He comes for them. This will require self-discipline and faith in keeping this simple mindset that the time is short and the world passing away!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers have great liberty in their lives while here on earth because they walk by faith in Jesus’ promise of a sudden and soon return for those awaiting His coming! “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven;” . . .”He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,11)
Recognize God’s time!
Scripture reading for March 29th: Luke 19
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 19:41-44 “As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “if you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Jesus approached the beloved city of Jerusalem for his last few days on earth. As He looked at the city, He wept over it. He had preached and plainly revealed that He was their Messiah but they had rejected Him. They would hail Him as their King, but call for His crucifixion before the week was over. How Jesus longed to bring peace to those people He knew and loved! But each person and each group of people has a time of visitation and a window of opportunity. When light is rejected, darkness descends on the soul and God gives you over to have what you have chosen. In Jesus’ day, Jerusalem and Israel did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them!
Observations for over-comers: Believers must remain alert and responsive to the Lord and the Holy Spirit in the last days. We know that the time is short and we must make the most of our time here. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:. . .” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)