Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: Ecclesiastes 1
Ecclesiastes 3:15 (NIV) "Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account."
It is no scientific breakthrough to realize that all of us are bound to repeat ourselves as we go about our daily routine. Time after time we get up, eat, go to work, church, watch TV, attend important meetings, sleep, and then do it all again. We do it over and over so much that the cycle seems endless. And somewhere along the line we ask ourselves, "What is the point of it all? Why am I doing this?" We are frustrated and bored, like we are watching the same dull, boring movie repeatedly.
God wants us to view our daily routines of life another way. He understands that as things go on in a routine manner, we begin to feel as if we have done it all before. However, our perfect Creator also wants us to realize that as we gladly and enthusiastically participate in this redundant activity, our character is being formed. Bit by bit our faith is being strengthened and our hope is growing deeper. In time, we have developed spiritual endurance, which is one of the believer's most important attributes according to Paul (1 Timothy 6:11). Through our daily routines, God is saying to us, "There is a much more to your life than a daily routine; it is the great potential for your spiritual maturity and contribution to the lives of others."
Three thousand years ago, Solomon wisely wrote, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Solomon understood that our daily routines hold an important secret: Part of God's plan for our lives is to yield to His leading in the ordinary events that occur again and again. By faithfully trusting Him throughout this year, semester, month, week, day, and even hour, we can be sure that our lives will routinely fresh with heavenly newness.
Faith Lesson: Routines are a fact of life, but trusting the Lord in them can make them worthwhile.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the Daily Message Devotional's new and full-featured website at http://www.dailymessage.org
To subscribe to the Daily Message Devotional mailing list, please send a blank email to UICDevotions-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
READ: Ecclesiastes 1
Ecclesiastes 3:15 (NIV) "Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account."
It is no scientific breakthrough to realize that all of us are bound to repeat ourselves as we go about our daily routine. Time after time we get up, eat, go to work, church, watch TV, attend important meetings, sleep, and then do it all again. We do it over and over so much that the cycle seems endless. And somewhere along the line we ask ourselves, "What is the point of it all? Why am I doing this?" We are frustrated and bored, like we are watching the same dull, boring movie repeatedly.
God wants us to view our daily routines of life another way. He understands that as things go on in a routine manner, we begin to feel as if we have done it all before. However, our perfect Creator also wants us to realize that as we gladly and enthusiastically participate in this redundant activity, our character is being formed. Bit by bit our faith is being strengthened and our hope is growing deeper. In time, we have developed spiritual endurance, which is one of the believer's most important attributes according to Paul (1 Timothy 6:11). Through our daily routines, God is saying to us, "There is a much more to your life than a daily routine; it is the great potential for your spiritual maturity and contribution to the lives of others."
Three thousand years ago, Solomon wisely wrote, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Solomon understood that our daily routines hold an important secret: Part of God's plan for our lives is to yield to His leading in the ordinary events that occur again and again. By faithfully trusting Him throughout this year, semester, month, week, day, and even hour, we can be sure that our lives will routinely fresh with heavenly newness.
Faith Lesson: Routines are a fact of life, but trusting the Lord in them can make them worthwhile.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the Daily Message Devotional's new and full-featured website at http://www.dailymessage.org
To subscribe to the Daily Message Devotional mailing list, please send a blank email to UICDevotions-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
