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Peace, we all want it. Peace on earth has been sought after for centuries. Many actually believe it can be achieved. People strive for it. They spend a lifetime seeking it. Legislators make so-called laws trying to ensure it; even attempting to mandate the world's way into it. It's all an illusion—on so many levels. Manufactured peace; does anyone actually believe that such a thing can exist. The trouble for most is simply a lack of understanding of what peace truly is. Peace is not something that can be manufactured, Peace came to earth on Christmas day. I think most of us, whether we call ourselves Christian or not, have heard of peace on earth as it relates to the Christmas season. We hear it in stories and songs; especially those of us who live in the United States. At the very least we've heard Linus recite it from Scripture in Charlie Brown's Christmas Special. Let's take a look at what God saying, and not saying, about peace on earth. Here is the most quoted translation— Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:10-14 NKJV Take a look again at the last part of Verse 14. I remember, even as a child, wondering what these words could possibly mean as I saw no peace on earth. Many years later as I started following Jesus and reading my Bible, I guess I must have thought of them as eventually coming to fruition when Jesus comes back to reign. In any case, it seems as though many see them as a general proclamation of angels or maybe dismiss them altogether. Either way, peace on earth, or world peace, continues to be sought after at all costs. Now please know that I am not criticizing, in any way, the King James, however, I am reminded of the importance of staying in God's word because He reveals Himself over and over again. I am also reminded that the Bible is written to the believer which would mean that the men to which peace is given is the follower of Christ. This is how verse 14 reads in other translations: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men (or those) with whom he is pleased! ” That changes everything doesn't it! It's not that King James doesn't say the same, it's that the old English can sometimes be difficult to comprehend. Yes, Jesus came for all people (see Luke 2:10, John 3:16), offering peace to whomever believes, however, He did not come to bring world peace or peace on earth as in peace around us or outside of us. Jesus was peace incarnate. He came to bring peace to the hearts of those who belong to Him. A peace that the world can not offer, though it desperately tries to find. He offers peace on the inside; peace with God and the peace of God; peace among those with whom He is pleased. Without Jesus peace is impossible. It's difficult for me not to mention the travesty of trying to redefine everything that God has created; especially since it's all being done (at least on the surface) in the name of supposed peace. It's just a lie of the devil who is using people to do his bidding. I don't see peace in any of it, I see chaos, and God, well, He's not the one who brings chaos and confusion (see 1 Corinthians 14:33). I believe if we take a look at the text earlier in Luke 2, we just may find some insight into why people are in a state of confusion instead of peace. Right from the very beginning there was no room for Jesus (vs7b). This is a picture of the heart, it's often too crowded. We are too busy. We have other things to take care of, other priorities. We seek the approval of the culture around us. Why? Because we want to fit in. It's difficult to be the outcast. But that is exactly what Jesus was to the world; an outcast. The funny thing is, it's not because Jesus was different than God intended the world (people) to be, thereby making Him an outcast. No, it's because man turned against what God intended the world to be, therefore Jesus, and consequently His followers, appear to be the outcasts. And so, God sent Peace to His people to live in a world full of chaos; a world where He called us to be a light on a hilltop. As mankind wrestles with the notion that if they tread upon heights they can achieve godhood, they continue to wander, seeking peace only to find chaos. When Jesus' life began, there was no room for Him (Luke 2:7) and at the end, He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. (Isaiah 53:3-4(a) NLT) Why would anyone turn their back on such a gift? Why is it that so many still do? I guess they don't think they need Him. Just as any gift that's offered, in order for it to be yours, you must receive it. The greatest Gift ever offered was, and still is, the Good news of Great Joy; The Savior who was born on Christmas day. Our Messiah. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play; And wild and sweet the tones repeat, “There’s peace on earth, good will to men.” I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along th’ unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men. And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “For hate is strong, and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor does He sleep, For Christ is here; His Spirit near Brings peace on earth, good will to men.” When men repent and turn from sin The Prince of Peace then enters in, And grace imparts within their hearts His peace on earth, good will to men. O souls amid earth’s busy strife, The Word of God is light and life; Oh, hear His voice, make Him your choice, Hail peace on earth, good will to men. Then happy, singing on your way, Your world will change from night to day; Your heart will feel the message real, Of peace on earth, good will to men. Longfellow got it. He knew the Scriptures, yet when he looked around, he saw no peace on earth. Instead what he found was death and destruction, chaos and confusion. Oh but what he learned is that it's internal peace, not external, that God offers. Christmas is not a commercial holiday as it's portrayed to be. It's a Christian Holy-day; the day Peace came to earth. Happy Birthday Jesus! And Merry Christmas to you. I hope that your celebration is Christ centered, as He is the only One who offers true peace on earth and good will toward men.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Before we dive into that, let's back up a bit. Jesus began His ministry with nine statements called "the Beatitudes." I remember, as a child, learning about The Beatitudes. To me, I saw them as a list of things I had to accomplish in order to please God to get into heaven. In other words, if I did this, then I would get that. Come to think of it, that is literally what I was taught. By the time I was a teenager, I realized I had two choices—to dumb down what Jesus said and hope for the best; or work toward becoming this perfect person I thought He expected me to be. Needless to say, I chose the former. Actually, what I did, was walk away from Him. Religion caused me decades of leaning on my own understanding and trying to control my life in my own strength. Beatitude means blessing or supreme blessedness . Thankfully, Jesus was not giving us a "how to" list of gaining heaven, rather a reflection of those who already have. That is to say, it is not something you do, it's who you become when Jesus lives in you. In Genesis 11 we're introduced to two kingdoms: the kingdom of man and the kingdom of God. These two kingdoms are woven throughout humanity. The tower of Babel was man's attempt to build a stairway to heaven—enter religion and man's desire to be their own god. But God, in his mercy, who knew left to himself man would implode, frustrates the plans of man to draw them back to Himself. This looks eerily familiar. Our world is in chaos, people are trying to achieve godhood, worshiping idols of all kinds. Truth is called lies and lies called truth. Lines are blurred and right is wrong. There is no moral truth. Instead of morality beginning with God, it's now based on who you are and what you believe. And then there's religion, a false belief that you can work your way to a god of your choice. Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, . . . Matthew 5:1-2 NASB Jesus went up on a hill so the hearer could hear. He sat down, I like that. He invited people to Himself, I like that too. He never forced anyone. He began to teach in order to undo the damage of dogmatic religion (and man’s ego) and replace it with truth. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3 NIV Okay, here's where we started, what does it mean to be poor in spirit? And furthermore, why do they get the kingdom of heaven? Poor in spirit is not acquired by merit—or piety—or status. It's not self-appointed—or inherited—or even taught. So how does one become poor in spirit? I wish it was like this—Bam, you're poor in spirit, but it's not that simple. Truth never is. Jesus started by talking about those who are poor in spirit as a condition of the heart that is given by the Spirit of God to the believer. I used to think He was talking about poverty as a financial condition or lacking of some sort. I've even heard it described as being downcast or depressed. However, Jesus was not describing a physical condition at all, but a spiritual one. A spiritual bankruptcy; an awareness of depravity and hopelessness without God; a need for Him. The closer we walk with Jesus, our inherent need for Him is realized. The smaller we get, the bigger He becomes—and it is in that awareness, Jesus said, we inherit the kingdom of heaven. Please join me over the next few weeks as we unpack the Beatitudes. No matter where you find yourself, my prayer is that by the end of this journey you will ask yourself this question, "Which kingdom will I choose—will I build my own kingdom, or will I choose the kingdom of God?"

What does it mean to hope? I'm not sure if any of us ponder how to do it, it just is. God designed every human heart to hope. It's a future expectation of good things to come. We don't usually hope for something bad, however, we do tend to dumb it down to wishful thinking. Its emphasis seems to come most when it's lacking. We don't do well when we're hopeless. Hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12a). So if our hearts were designed to hope, why then does hopelessness abound? Perhaps, as I alluded to, we've lowered the bar. Are we becoming as numb to hope as we have to sin? We talked about sin last time; if we don't realize that we utterly fall short of the glory of God, we'll miss the beauty of the cross. If there is no sin, there's no need for a Savior. Likewise, without saving grace, hope easily turns to hopelessness. It's no wonder so many struggle with anxiety and depression. What are you hoping for? A better life, that it will stop raining, Mr. or Mrs. right, the right frying pan? Or maybe like me, you're hoping for healing from a chronic illness. Of course I'm not at all saying these are bad to hope for, however, they are temporary and will never fully satisfy. Hopelessness begins with the absence of God (see Ephesians 2:12). Think for a moment about the complexity of the human body; how every part fits together and operates. It's simply amazing. And the Universe; isn't it incredible how it all works in unison and sustains life? Imagine the faith it must take to believe that somehow it all happened with a big BANG, and then when it's over, nothing, it's just over. I wonder how hope could live there? Can hope live where God exists as Creator but chooses not to interfere or interact with His creation? I guess that could seem like a logical conclusion with the world and suffering as it is. However, this actually a place that can breed self dependence and control. Trust me, I know it well, I was there a very long time and I can honestly say with confidence that hope definitely does not live there. How about the valley of lukewarm, where God is put in a box and the creation makes the creator into whomever suits them. This is the ever changing god, so I don't know, do you see hope living there? Trust in logic, in your own perspective, or in your feelings and you will be deceived. Hope does not survive on such things. Peter is about to tell us how hope actually does survive in his letter to believers, who, because of persecution, were scattered throughout the world. He gives us a clear indication of the power of the One true God and the living hope He offers— 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 NIV A living hope. A hope that is alive. One that doesn't disappoint (see Romans 5:5) and is eternal through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly awaiting His to return (see Philippians 3:20). and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 1 Peter 1:4 NLT I love the verbiage here. These words have been hijacked by the world along with so many others— Pure and Undefiled, words that can only be associated with Jesus. Our inheritance is incorruptible and can not fail. Salvation begins at surrender. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1-5 NLT God's power and man's faith intersect. This is an inheritance that is preserved only for His beloved. God is protecting you until your salvation is fully revealed. For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things, as when we stare into polished metal. I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture. But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face. In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God. (1 Corinthians 13:12 Voice) There is a living hope that sustains us until 'that day'. And that, beloved, is exactly where hope lives.

Solomon, plain and simple, took his eyes off of God and his life proceeded to roll down a proverbial hill. Though he had been given the gift of great wisdom, the very idea of life had become burdensome to him, like grasping for the wind. Plagued by our need to find meaning, we can't help but recognize that time just keeps ticking on. We do however try to control it or at the very least put boundaries around it, ignoring and even denying the fact that everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV Solomon contrasts the seasons of life in all their variety (read vs 2-8). Some see wonder, but keeping in step with Solomon, I think it's safe to say that he saw monotony. What does the worker gain from his struggles? I have seen the task that God has given the children of Adam to keep them occupied. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:9-11 CSB God has planted eternity in the human heart, therefore we long for something meaningful that lasts. With Him, there's beauty; without Him, it can be quite frustrating. Why? Because God never gives man the satisfaction of fully understanding what He does, yet man never stops seeking to be on equal footing with God. It's alarming to watch an unbelieving world practice insanity in the name of eternity; eternity on their own terms that is. Grab the power! Indoctrinate the people! Turn back the clock! Save the planet! God has built into us a knowledge that there is something more that matters and many spin in circles trying to find it. But it's Him; He's the something; He's the One who fills the hole. Oh, but we're so easily distracted by the shiny thing in the corner aren't we? Distraction is the devil's greatest tool and we are on a rapid pace of destruction by distraction. We've been inundated with 'don't look over there, look over here' narratives. And now we've graduated into 2+2 doesn't always equal 4 and if you can add, you're racist. Boys can be girls and girls boys and if you know God and biology, you're evil. What is a woman anyway? Evil is good and good is evil, but again don't look over there, look over here. Alarming indeed! There is just simply no way to deny that this level of widespread crazy goes far beyond flesh and blood. It's a spiritual battle (see Ephesians 6:12). However, even more alarming to me is the "Church" who has been duped into believing that they should ignore the culture, simply preach the Gospel, practice inclusion as the world does, and wait for Jesus. But the question on the table is did Jesus only preach the Gospel? Maybe we should take a look at His interactions with the Pharisees, Peter or Paul, the rich young ruler, the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery or the men who stood around waiting to stone her. Jesus spoke truth on every level. He addressed the culture. Why wouldn't we? Did He not determine the times set for us and the exact places where we should live? Didn't He say that He's a lamp to our feet and a light to our path? Would He do so and then expect us to ignore where He put us? I'll let that hang in the air for a moment. How exactly do we meet the culture where the culture is if we bury our heads in the sand, or worse, like Solomon, join them in it? I can think of no situation in Scripture where God's true representatives ignored the culture. In fact, it was quite the opposite. They were very well aware of what was happening. They lived within the signs of the times and represented Truth; even to their detriment and death. Why in the name of all that is holy do Christians justify their choice to stay quiet and ignore evil? How can we be a light in the darkness if we ignore the fact that it's dark? How can lies be squelched by truth in silence? Jesus said, “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! Matt 6:22-23 NLT Yep, there it is. One of the many times Jesus spoke truth and because He loved people, He did so without compromise. Why do we think that we can love better than Jesus loved? Oswald Chambers once wrote, " Is God’s will being fulfilled in that His Son has been formed in me, or have I carefully pushed Him to one side? Oh, the noisy outcry of today! Why does everyone seem to be crying out so loudly? People today are crying out for the Son of God to be put to death. There is no room here for God’s Son right now—no room for quiet, holy fellowship and oneness with the Father." We see this distraction in Solomon. Rather than stand on God's word, he became part of the culture and his view of God was skewed. We must be aware of the devil's distractions; he desires nothing more than for you to cry out for the death of Jesus or simply stay quiet while He is erased. “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ (Matt 11:16-17 NIV) We've become numb and desensitized to the world around us. People in Jesus day expected the Messiah to act in certain ways and when He didn't, they accused Him of being empowered by Satan (see Matt 12:27). Jesus's reply is sobering, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. Matt 12:30 NLT When we're rejected by the world because Jesus asks us to stand with Him instead of with the culture, it's uncomfortable to say the least. We tend to make excuses for Him, trying to make Him into someone who is palatable. Solomon served idols. He looked for excuses and many times chose to stay silent. He ignored what was right in front of him, allowing for egregious acts against God that included child sacrifice (see 1 Kings 11-4-11). My heart sinks as I think about how many babies are being sacrificed on our watch. Will you stand with Jesus or will you follow Solomon's example? Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV

A divided people—seems like a headline from today's news doesn't it? Superior ideologies, created walls, customs, traditions—all divisive and unfortunately blinding many to God. Jesus reconciles us to God in one body through the cross. It's not about tradition, or custom, or a work of the flesh. Jesus did the work. He suffered what righteousness demanded. He's the superior One. God's choice was to do what He knew we could not do. And in doing so He brought to Himself the most unlikely of people, like: Jacob the deceiver, Saul the murderer, Peter the fisherman, Rahab the prostitute, Ruth the immigrant, Jena the controller, and you, what about you? See my last post, The Power of Reconciliation, on Ephesians 2:15-22 https://www.jenarainonesmith.com/post/the-power-of-reconciliation God, through Paul, wove our redemption story into this letter to Ephesus. He split it in two: the first half so beautifully lays out our identity in Christ, how we move from death to life in Him, and more importantly God's grace and gift of salvation that He extends to everyone by faith—(not an action, but a response). Here we are, Chapter 3, the last chapter of the first half of Paul's letter. He begins with one of the many beautiful prayers in scripture. For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—Ephesians 3:1; Paul pauses here and injects a parenthetical thought that runs through verse 13, before resuming his prayer in verse 14. He begins with his credentials so to speak; Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. (Ephesians 3:2-7 NIV) God revealed Christ to Paul, and opened his eyes to the mystery that the extension of His grace was meant for all people, who through the Gospel, have equal standing in Christ. This mystery was hidden until now—now being after God revealed His Son. Paul was given the awesome responsibility to deliver God's grace to the Gentile people. God was uniting all people, Jew and Gentile, in one Body, Christ. Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. (Genesis 18:18 NIV) Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. (Ephesians 3:8-9 NIV) I love Paul's humility in verse 8. Do you feel that way—less than all the Lord's people? Most would say we shouldn't, but I disagree. Before Paul's Damascus Road moment (that's where he met Jesus), he was a murderer, yet God still chose him. Paul never seized in his amazement of the grace given him. In all the ways God used Paul, he never looked at himself or his deeds as his own achievements, but in humility and in remembering who he used to be, he focused his eyes instead on the unsearchable riches of Christ. Like Paul, the memories of my past did not disappear when I met Jesus. Yes I am washed clean by His sacrifice and no words could ever express my gratitude, but I still remember the person I was. I often think of her. Sometimes I find it difficult to believe that God would choose to use me in such important work as His. When I think of all this, I pray that I never forget who I was, so that I continuously remember what I was saved from; and most assuredly of the One who saved me, and to my amazement, Whom He saved me for. Now without question, in the inevitable wrestling match in my flesh, I'm reminded that it's only by my moment by moment dependence on Him that I can accomplish anything. His [God's] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. (Ephesians 3:10-13 NIV) emphasis added WOW! Imagine the angels, both good and bad, watching God's plan unfold through His beloved. He didn't tell the angels what He was doing. I wonder how they felt looking on as God created man in His image; and even more as He chose the Church to unveil that He would actually come and indwell him. This was God's eternal plan from the beginning. The angels watch as we become the temple of His Spirit. Can‘t you just see heaven‘s angels in awe and fallen angels in panic? They [the prophets of old] were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. (1 Peter 1:12 NLT) emphasis added Because of Jesus, we come boldly before the throne of God's grace with freedom and confidence; and to Paul sharing this Good News was worth the sufferings of any obstacle in his way. What's in the way of God's plan for you? Do you let your past keep you from God or does it push you toward Him? Jesus paved the way for you to come; warts and all. No matter where you find yourself today, come back next time as Paul bends his knee on your behalf; may his prayer seep deeply into your soul.

I love Paul's humility in Ephesians 3:8 when he says. "Although I am less than all the Lord's people." Do you feel that way—less than all the Lord's people? Most would say we shouldn't, but I disagree. Before Paul's Damascus Road moment (that's where he met Jesus), he was a murderer, yet God still chose him. Paul never seized in his amazement of the grace given him. In all the ways God used Paul, he never looked at himself or his deeds as his own achievements, but in humility and in remembering who he used to be, he focused his eyes instead on the unsearchable riches of Christ. I pray that I never forget who I was, so that I continuously remember what I was saved from; and most assuredly of the One who saved me, and to my amazement, Whom He saved me for. Now without question, in the inevitable wrestling match in my flesh, I'm reminded that it's only by my moment by moment dependence on Him that I can accomplish anything. See my last post, The Power of Prayer, on Ephesians 3:1-13 https://www.jenarainonesmith.com/post/the-power-of-prayer The remainder of Ephesians chapter 3 is Paul's prayer of intercession. I find it a bit difficult to break it up to discuss but I pray God gives me the words He wants to convey. However, please please read it uninterrupted for yourself in Ephesians 3:14-21. As I write about one of the most beautiful and powerful prayers in scripture, my heart aches as I watch the world unravel because of its desire to take God out of everything. Somehow the belief that godhood can be achieved in self is front and center. I can't help but wonder what eyes would see if hearts were opened to the One true God who provided a way to freedom in Him. Paul returns in verse 14 to where he started in verse 1, "When I think of all this. . . ." When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 3:14-15 NLT) Paul is in awe that God would entrust him with the privilege of spreading the Good News about His plan regarding Christ—that all who believe in Him share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. In humility, on his knees, Paul intercedes for the believer—I'm captivated by how his prayer is like stones that stack, one upon another, as if building an altar to God. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. (vs16 NLT) Strength from the Spirit of God put into our inner being; inner strength. There is a natural resistance to the human heart's surrender. The strength given by the Spirit of God to the believer opens the door of his (or her) heart to follow Jesus wherever He leads. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (vs17NLT) I remember reading this for the first time and thinking, what does it mean for Jesus to make His home in my heart? I've realized over the last decade or so that this is not a question that I could answer, or learn for that matter, not on an intellectual level anyway; but in a complete way, a spiritual way. We love, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 Paul asks God to empower us through His Spirit, and he notes that as we grow in His love, we will organically surrender more and more of our heart to Jesus until it becomes His. Home may mean different things to different people, but for me, I would describe home as the place I long to be—where I am known best—where I feel safe and secure. I love the analogy of Jesus making His home in my heart because as Paul goes on, he indicates that an open heart rooted in Christ reveals the love of God. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (vs18 NLT). Oh, that we have this understanding power, all else is just an illusion! Understanding the power of God's love grounds us, making us pliable and prepares us to be used; always, but especially today. Paul points out that God's love has dimensions, showing its reality and that it can be measured; but can it really be fully comprehended? Only by the way of the cross— Author David Guzik writes, To come to any understanding of the dimensions of God’s love, we must come to the cross. The cross pointed in four ways, essentially in every direction, because... · God’s love is wide enough to include every person. · God’s love is long enough to last through all eternity. · God’s love is deep enough to reach the worst sinner. · God’s love is high enough to take us to heaven. Stop and ponder that for a moment, why would anyone decide not to fully follow Jesus? Consider the alternative. As a matter of fact, turn on the news, you can't help but see the contrast. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (vs19 NLT) The next stone on the stack is Paul's desire for the beloved to experience the love of Christ in every way, releasing ALL the fullness of God, making us complete in Him. Imagine how different the world would look if it surrendered to the Truth of God's promises? Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (vs20 NLT) What we've unpacked in Ephesians 1-3 is far beyond what any human being can accomplish. Only God is able to do such things, much more than we could ask or imagine. Christian, your eternity begins here and now; you've been raised from death to life; and you're equipped with everything you need to walk in what God has promised to do in and through you— exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think (NKJV) Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. (vs21 NLT) It's not so simple for me to move on from these three chapters because as you will see in chapter 4, Paul begins to lay out what it looks like to walk in the truth of who we are in Christ. It's so imperative to let that truth sink deep into your soul, creating an appetite for God that exceeds anything of this world. When His beloved collectively walk in His purposes, God will be glorified and lives will be changed. If you need to go back and read Ephesians chapters 1-3 over and over again, as I have, before moving on to chapter 4, please do; I know you won't regret it. May I suggest that you insert your name throughout the pages—and read it out loud for your ears to hear all that God has promised to those who are in Christ Jesus.

I sat with a plethora of emotions yesterday while looking out the window at gray skies, remembering the cross. I heard over and over again in my mind the mockers passing by— "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! Let this Messiah, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe" (see Mark 15:31-32) They wanted a sign in order to believe. They didn't realize it, but it was there in their very own words, "he saved others." They knew, yet they didn't believe. What would it take for them? They mocked and ridiculed. They beat Him and nailed Him to a cross. God incarnate took the beating for them—and for you and for me. After all, we would have done the same. In fact, we have. However, remember, no one took His life but He willingly gave it. God provided a way for us to be reconciled with Him, and that way was the cross. John put it this way, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (vs 3:16) Faith is more than simply believing with your mind. Believe, as Johns states it, means to commit unto. And to be committed to Christ is to make Him Lord of your life. He sets the boundaries. Faith is following Him wherever He may lead, whether or we like the path He chooses. In a day when there is so much hate, self righteousness, self love and loathing, we have a God who knew just how depraved we'd become— But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8) Good Friday is a day to remember. Remembering is so important. We need to feel the weight of sin, especially our own. If we don't realize what we've been forgiven, we will have no need for a Savior. Oh don't misunderstand me, we all need a Savior, but the choice is still ours to make—follow or not; Jesus's covering or your own merit. Choose wisely, your very life depends on it. Salvation is free to us, but it certainly wasn't free. Jesus paid a great price for you. Without Friday, we wouldn't have Sunday. And that particular Sunday was the greatest day in history—Resurrection Day; the day Jesus defeated sin and conquered death. But today; today is Saturday. Saturday is a day of contemplation. For those of us who have chosen to commit unto Him, we wait with bated breath Sunday's celebration, knowing that the tomb is empty! And we shout with praise, He has risen indeed! How about you? What does this Sunday mean to you? Will it be bunnies and eggs, and chicks and chocolate? Or will you posture yourself toward the One who paid it all for you? Come on, look at the picture, even the bunny knows!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5) The desert, a place that we avoid at all cost…at least I have. And yet, I currently find myself in a desert place for more than 2 years. I have striven for happiness, contentment and fulfillment in order to have comfort and security all of my life. As I’m writing this, I’m envisioning myself a cat chasing her tail around and around. Think about that for a moment, a cat doesn't even realize her tail is attached to her body as she twirls around aimlessly trying to catch it.  As it is for everyone, I've had my share of struggles. Some of the are my own doing (like the chase I describe above), others may or may not have been self-inflicted (such as cancer/health issues) and still there are others I've had little or no control over (life happenings).  We spend much of our time climbing hills trying desperately to get to the top, reaching for the prize, only to get there and find that the climb was the prize. Seems pointless?  Sometimes I hear the ‘comfort girl’ inside me scream a resounding YES!  But I’m realizing, as much as I wish it was different, it’s through the climb we become who we were meant to be. In what seems like an endless season of insomnia, I am learning that for me insomnia translates into waiting in stillness. WAITING AND STILLNESS, I’m not too fond of either of those words and they are certainly not the easiest of things for God to ask of me!  There are days that the quiet stillness is so loud it deafens me. But I am slowly learning the importance of the climb and also of the desert.  This particular season can sometimes be so dark and exhausting that it takes my breath away. But I've learned that it’s probably the only place a control freak like me has a chance to learn dependency. It’s a scary place because although on the outside I may seem as though I have it all together, I have lived with hidden fears for most of my life. My need to control things has given me a false sense of security. It has brought me to the seemingly haunting reality that we actually do not control anything at all.  I guess most of us probably think we do. It takes just one unexpected turn for us to truly realize that our control is an illusion. Just ask anyone who has lost a loved one, maybe received a bad diagnosis, lost a job, their home or even just had a small fender bender. Control is not and never has been ours to have. The desert is where we learn about ourselves and our dependence on God. It is there that I find myself wrestling before Him and I have come to realize that wrestling is not only okay but many times necessary. It’s through the wrestling that I’m learning what it is God wants for me, and more importantly from me. I have to stop here for a moment to say that I am so grateful that before He sent me into the desert, He gave me my husband, family and friends to love me through it. Each one of us is born with a purpose but most create it instead of seek it. Do I dare say that we “dumb it down?” I know I have and it can be so defeating to live life without  ever discovering why you were created in the first place. I can say with certainty that God did not create anyone with a purpose that will serve them alone. We were created by Him, for Him. Jesus said the two most important commandments are to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as yourself.  So it’s safe to say that everyone’s purpose has something and everything to do with those two commands. I started this post with John 1:5 and I will end it with another verse which just happens to be in a different book penned by John— This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. (1 John 1:5) Jesus teaches us to follow the Light, even and especially when darkness seems to hide His face. He will lead you , mold you, teach you, use you, and even delight you through the darkness. And He will never leave you nor forsake you.

I imagine committing a crime and being sentenced to a suffering of some sort. Maybe a prison cell. For me this would be the worst kind of suffering. You see I am claustrophobic and even the thought of being confined makes me feel like I’m drowning or in a parked car in August with the windows up and the doors locked shut. Or perhaps for you, maybe it’s being badly beaten every day by an angry person. Or worse, being violated each and every day until you are numb to the very core of your being. Then imagine one day, out of nowhere, someone you’ve never met steps up and offers to take your place. Freely giving it all up for you, surrendering everything to rescue you. At first you don’t believe it, why would you, it's impossible. Who would do this? Surely he must want something from me or why would he do this? But his answer is simple. “It’s love.” And you think, love??? I don’t even know him. And even stranger, you think, does he know me? This is crazy. This can’t be real. And you remember all the times you’ve heard someone say “If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is." Then one day, you wake up and you’re on the outside of your cell and when you turn back to look inside you see someone lying there wearing your coat. The one you’ve always worn before. He lifts His head, looking up at you He smiles and without words His eyes say to you “I love you, so I took your place." Then He tells you, "Now go and live forever free. Just remember Me always. Tell people what I’ve done and that I love them as much as I love you." Would you do it—tell people? Would you fall at His feet in gratitude? Would you forever be grateful knowing that “His law is Love and His gospel is Peace?” Would you go as far as to say you would worship Him? Or would you walk away claiming your freedom, forever forgetting the Selfless, Loving, Awesome One who FREELY gave it all up for you? Jesus is knocking. Answer the door. He knocked on my door for more than forty years, waiting patiently for me to answer. When I did, He rescued me from my prison cell and gave me life. Like me, you’re a sinner in need of a Savior. If you haven’t already surrendered to Jesus, do it now. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? Mark 8:35-37

Rejoicing over her, His desire has always been that she love Him with all of her heart. He stimulates that desire and the fruit it will produce—revealing His glory through the gifts He's placed within her. She separated herself to her King—to get away together—to refresh and recharge. Oh, how His beloved has matured; she is completely aware that He alone is her lifeline. See my last post on Song of Songs 7:4-13 https://www.jenarainonesmith.com/post/redeeming-love-crowns-you-as-royalty We naturally compartmentalize relationships. What I mean is, we put relationships with people in one category and God in another. So, when we read a love story like this, we tend to immediately view it as a horizontal love—but it's actually a vertical love—a love story about God—who IS love and your Creator—who chose you, pursues you and is showing you love as He designed it to be—a love story between Him and His beloved (you). As we approach the final chapter, it's just the beginning of the story. My prayer has always been that you would hear God speak directly to you, as He did me, when He birthed this series in my heart. True love begs the question, "What kind of love is this that He lay down His life?" Though we may think we understand love, I believe we are incapable of comprehending this kind of love. "We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19 NASB) God designed the truest of love to overflow. In order for that to happen, we must surrender all of our misconceptions, past hurt, and protection mechanisms to Him. We give God glory when we surrender and receive His love. And that Beloved, is a journey that only He can lead. The [Woman]: “Oh, if only you were my brother; then I could kiss you no matter who was watching, and no one would laugh at me. I would bring you to my childhood home, and there you would teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, sweet pomegranate wine. His left hand would be under my head and his right hand would embrace me. I adjure you, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken him until he pleases.” Songs 8:1-4 TLB For her, culturally, it was improper to show public displays of affection; but she longed for the freedom to express her love openly and give her best to Him in response to the love and devotion He freely gave. Isn't this true for us? As God's love for His creation is distorted, it has become more and more difficult to display openly our love for Jesus. However, as the bride discovered, over and over again, the Bridegroom-King hems you in and holds you close. Do not disturb my Love, she asks; her desire is to be inwardly prepared for Him as she awaits His arrival. Oh, that we may be prepared—inwardly prepared, dressed and ready—waiting for Jesus to come and get us. This is a longing God put in the human heart when He breathed the breath of life into Adam's nostrils. The Young Women of Jerusalem: “Who is this coming up from the desert, leaning on her beloved?” King Solomon: “Under the apple tree where your mother gave birth to you in her travail, there I awakened your love.” The [Woman]: “Seal me in your heart with permanent betrothal, for love is strong as death, and jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. It flashes fire, the very flame of Jehovah. Many waters cannot quench the flame of love, neither can the floods drown it. If a man tried to buy it with everything he owned, he couldn’t do it.” Songs 8:5-7 TLB I suppose we're all searching for significance in one form or another. I know for me, I've spent a lot of time trying to navigate where I fit. I think, for the most part, we want to be able to look back and see a life well lived. Depending on the person, it may look a little different, but the destination is still the same; we want to believe somehow we've made a difference. The longer I live, the less it seems I know. I think I'm only beginning to understand what Jesus meant when He said not to store treasures for yourself on earth but to store our treasures in heaven. (see Matthew 6) Having followed the Bride's journey, we've watched her shift from a horizontal (worldly) perspective to a vertical (heavenly) one. Becoming fully dependent on Him, she exchanges her will for His. She's fitted with the impenetrable armor of God. He seals her in His love; the fullness of joy is present. The [Woman’s] Brothers: “We have a little sister too young for breasts. What shall we do if someone asks to marry her?” King Solomon: “If she has no breasts, we will build upon her a battlement of silver, and if she is a door, we will enclose her with cedar boards.” The [Woman]: “I am slim, tall, and full-breasted, and I have found favor in my lover’s eyes. Songs 8:8-10 TLB She's reminded of a time of vulnerability, when her insecurity caused a chasm between them. Yet no matter what life threw at her, she somehow knew He'd always protect her. Because there's an enemy who holds on tightly, we are vulnerable to his lies. Until Truth penetrates, God holds you in the palm of His hand, continuously rescuing you from the hidden traps of the enemy. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon, which he rented out to some farmers there, the rent being one thousand pieces of silver from each. But as for my own vineyard, you, O Solomon, shall have my thousand pieces of silver, and I will give two hundred pieces to those who care for it. O my beloved, living in the gardens, how wonderful that your companions may listen to your voice; let me hear it too. Songs 8:10-13 TLB Come quickly, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or young deer upon the mountains of spices.”Songs 8:14 TLB He loves you with an Everlasting Love. You were created by Him—for Him—to be One with Him, His bride. Let this be your love story. Your chariot awaits. Your King is inside. He's reaching for you— Will you take His hand? Receive His love? Surrender to His will? Will you allow Him to mold you and shape you into the one He always intended you to be? As His Beloved. . . . All things belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 3:22-23 NASB (Thank you for joining me on this journey through the Song of Songs. This (part 14) is the final post in the series, I hope God used it to bless you)

The first three pieces of armor that we use in our struggle against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places are the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness (of Christ), and the Shoes of readiness given by the Gospel of Peace—if you're a Christian, they are already in place and were put on at salvation. Let Truth guide your thinking. Let His Righteousness protect and cover you. And the Gospel of Peace, let it strengthen you to stand on what you know is true and go forth in bringing it to the ends of the earth. See my last post, Part 1, on Ephesians 6:13-15 https://www.jenarainonesmith.com/post/take-up-the-whole-armor-part-1 Now that we've established the parts of the armor that are put on at salvation, we continue with the parts we must take up. Let's talk about the shield of faith. (Remember, of the whole armor there is only one offensive weapon, the sword. The rest are defensive and used to protect what we already have against the spiritual forces pulling us toward evil.) In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; Ephesians 6:16 ESV In battle, a soldier's wooden shield was used to protect and ward off the enemy's fiery darts hurled at him from every direction. The strategy was to cause confusion, exposure, and vulnerability. If the soldier dropped the flaming shield or if it was burned up he would be an easy target. However, the soldiers developed a strategy of their own. They realized that if they wrapped the shield in leather and doused the leather in water right before battle, the fiery darts would be extinguished upon contact. We also need a strategy of protection against the enemy's fiery darts. Paul exhorts us to take up the shield of faith. The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1). Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom 10:17); or the Message paraphrase, "Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to." In other words, faith begins where the will of God is known, so you can't have faith where you don't know what God has said. We're called to have faith in what we do not see. For we live by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Let's be honest, isn't it the opposite? Don't we usually depend on what we can see in order to live? I surely wrestle with this daily. Things like good health; and the meds (and supplements) it takes to get us or keep us there. We depend on ourselves, our family, friends, money, power, career—isn't it true that we look to such things as our shields of protection? If you want to know what God says, flip what the world says upside-down. The world says that seeing is believing, but Jesus said that those who believe without seeing are blessed. Seeing is never believing: we interpret what we see in the light of what we believe. Faith is confidence in God before you see God emerging, therefore the nature of faith is that it must be tried. (Oswald Chambers). Even our faith comes from God and He allows trials to grow it. Unfortunately without trials faith is shallow. Shallow faith cannot withstand the fiery darts that the enemy hurls from every direction; destructive thoughts, feelings, lies, doubt, fear—definitely fear. The shield does not come first and then faith follows. No, remember flip it upside-down, faith builds the shield. [Oh Lord] put on your armor and take up your shield. Prepare for battle and come to my aid (Ps 35:2). God is our shield and faith gives us the confidence to hope in that. "Do not be afraid Abram, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward"(Gen 15:1). I've shared this before—fear is my struggle, add to it a dash of doubt and you have the results of a wrong view of God. I spent much of my life experiencing what I now recognize as a form of indoctrination; the secular view that there is no God of the Bible. In my childhood there was religion. My family didn't follow it "religiously" but it was woven into the fabric of not just our family but our culture. Religion always brings condemnation. By the time I was a teenager, I walked away from God because of a skewed lens which propelled me into trying to control everything in my life. Control always brings fear. When the inevitable difficulties of life come, especially difficulties that from a human perspective are impossible to navigate or resolve, generally the reality of God enters the room. However, oftentimes that can further skew our lens. Our view of reality is usually colored by our own perspective. That is why God is the only author of truth and ultimate reality; and He is totally trustworthy. However, don't be disillusioned by the notion that God's love for His creation is the key to a comfortable life and a ticket to heaven. God gave His Son...let that sit for a moment— He gave His Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life—with Him. He tells us that He tarries wanting none to perish. If you're waiting, what are you waiting for? Faith in itself isn't hopeful. We all have faith in something. Without God, there is no real hope. Faith in God brings hope and hope is the evidence of things not seen. We were created by God for God. He is always pursuing us. My only regret is that I didn't open my heart to His pursuit much earlier in life. However, you must know that following God isn't easy. True faith brings with it world condemnation and the devil's schemes. Just saying the name Jesus, at the very least, causes strife. Christianity is not for the faint at heart. It is often mistaken as religion; it's not. It's a relationship with the living God and like any relationship, there is pursuing and cultivating and understanding. Sometimes, on our part, there is misunderstanding of who God really is. Christianity is as much about unlearning as it is learning. I brought with me a lifetime of bad ideas about God, but God says that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. He will use every bit of my life, and yours, to grow our faith, for His glory. Faith is a shield against our bad thinking, against our tendency toward self reliance, against the world's indoctrination, and against the devil's schemes and flaming darts that he's constantly hurling at us. We've put on our belt, our breastplate, and our shoes. We've taken up our shield; and next time, the helmet, the sword, and prayer. Are you starting to feel armed and ready?

Jesus declares in His following statements the results of spiritual poverty. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NIV Depravity is tangible. It demeans and belittles. It incites hatred and division; a need for power and murderous tendencies. It convinces the world that God doesn't exist or at the very least, He doesn't care. This, beloved, should cause a deep mourning in every believer. A weeping over what breaks God's heart. Jesus, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief said that it is God's mourners who will be comforted. See my last post on the Beatitudes https://www.jenarainonesmith.com/post/they-shall-be-comforted Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 NIV I used to see meek as weak, timid, or passive; that is until I met Jesus. Jesus Himself was meek. He had all the power of God yet He remained self-controlled. No matter what He faced, He did not resist but instead submitted to the will of God. So how is meekness defined? It's Strength under control; or Controlled Strength. As we've established, Jesus was not giving us a list of things to do, but of who we become in Him. These are things that do not happen in our own strength. Poor in spirit is a condition of the heart, an awareness of our need for God. Out of that need comes a mourning over sin and its effects. As a result, meekness is produced. Now, as a fruit of the Spirit, I know I have meekness in me, but just like Jesus’s first two declarations, it's not an automatic posture. It's a minute by minute dependence on Him. Left to myself, meek I am not. After all, meek people don't care what the world thinks, only of what God thinks. I wrestle with the desire to have significance in the world. Meek people are gentle and humble. Gentle doesn't exactly describe me and as far as humility, I think, other than Jesus, if we say we're humble, are we actually humble? Meek people trust God in all things—and wait on Him in all matters. Doubt creeps in and many times I find myself thinking I know better. Meek people have self-control—refrain from unrighteous anger, revenge or defensiveness. My filter is often broken. Jesus was gentle and humble. His very existence was to please His Father in Heaven. He was strong, yet controlled. At every step, He followed the will of God: For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 NLT This was the ultimate form of meekness. Meekness also puts us in a posture of listening. With His eyes forever locked on His Father, [Jesus]"scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. . .He told them. . .“Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”(see John 2:15-16). His righteous anger was not contrary to His meekness As our perfect example, without Jesus our meekness is counterfeit. So, where does that leave us? Where does genuine meekness come from? Andrew Murray explains it this way: [Jesus says]"Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart:" without ceasing the word sounds in our ears as our Lord’s answer to all the sad complaints of His redeemed ones, as to the difficulty of restraining temper. O my brother! why is Jesus, your Jesus, your life, and your strength, why is He the meek and lowly One, if it be not to impart to you, to whom He so wholly belongs, His own meekness? Therefore, only believe! Believe that Jesus is able to fill your heart with His own spirit of meekness. Believe that Jesus Himself will, through His own Spirit, accomplish in you the work that you have in vain endeavored to do." As dark times loom over us, may we fix our eyes upon Jesus. As He imparts to you His own meekness, you will be encouraged (Psalm 69:32)—crowned with victory (Psalm 149:4)—filled with fresh joy from the Lord (Isaiah 29:19)—your heart will rejoice with everlasting Joy (Psalm 22:26)—and you will have a peace that transcends understanding (Philippians 4:7). This, I believe, is the earthly inheritance Jesus spoke of. The fruit of the discipline of meekness before God produces in you mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; and Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. It's time, meek one—will you accept God's assignment as He positions you in a broken and lost Babel?

Sometimes I think we walk through life with peripheral vision, focusing on the temporary—what's outside and around us, forgetting that what's within is eternal. Paul, knowing that even faith comes from God, prays that the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened in order that we may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and the incredible greatness of God's power for those who are in Christ. God brings salvation to us, and once we receive His gift, He seals it with Himself. So many completely miss this. Even those of us who have given our heart to Him sometimes lack the ability to grasp the depth of His grace, and hold onto hope, especially in a world lost in chaos. See my last post, Peripheral Vision, on Ephesians 1:15-23 https://www.jenarainonesmith.com/post/peripheral-vision The book of Ephesians reiterates over and over again that we, who believe, are in Christ—and being in Him is so much more than simply believing in who He is, it's actually following in His footsteps. Although we fall short, a lot, His righteousness covers us and His love spurs us on. Having said that, you'll notice that Paul never mentions "doing" anything, at least not in the first half of his letter. God put on Paul's heart how important it is that we truly know God and our position in Him. I remember trying to grasp what it means to be in Christ. I still can't fully wrap my mind around it. I guess the only way to truly understand who we are in Him, we first have to realize who we were without Him. Paul begins chapter two with this—you were dead. Dead? As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (Ephesians 2:1-2 NIV) Now obviously Paul didn't mean 'dead' dead, but spiritually dead. To be physically dead is to be separated from the body; to be spiritually dead is to be separated from God. Every lie, act of greed, selfish action, etc., Paul is saying that these things separated you from God. But in order to be raised from the dead, you must first be dead; and dead people, well, they don't have the ability to make themselves alive, especially when they don't even know they're dead. Paul is making the point that dead people can't make themselves righteous, nor can they save themselves, only God can raise the dead. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. (Ephesians 2:3 NIV) Okay, let's go back to the beginning, Adam (and Eve) thought they knew better than God. They were convinced that they could become like God, thereby doing away with their need for Him. Sound familiar? Every human being begins his life by following in Adam's footsteps. When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. His sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT). At some point each of us will face a fork in the road and we will have to make a choice. This is where the footstep following becomes evident, exposing wants and desires that have nothing to do with God and everything to do with self. When the focus is self, desires mount. The more desires met, the bigger the appetite—more becomes bigger, bigger becomes better, better becomes exhausting. God affords everyone choice just as He did Adam. Unfortunately, we minimize the choice, but the choice is extreme. It’s a choice between life and death. The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17 NLT) Adam brought death, Jesus brings life. Seems like a no brainer, but seriously, many choose Adam. The deception is the same, believing that man can become his own god. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV) God loves us. He saved us. He made us alive and placed us in Christ when we were dead, right in the middle of sinning against Him; providing the way to Him. He secured us by His great might and amazing grace. That is grace that we do not deserve. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:6 NIV) God raised us up all the way to heaven and seated with Jesus. We are simultaneously here and there at the same time. WOW, I mean really stop for a moment and ponder that thought. How could it be? Well, as I said before it's difficult to wrap our finite minds around such things as these. However, we know that we are in Christ and He sits outside of time, so when God raised Him, our true life and identity was in Him. While we may walk in this world, heaven is our true home. "When we understand our position, we will understand the power that's made available to us. Everything that belongs to Jesus belongs to us." ~Tony Evans Is there anything on earth—possession, power, success, person—worth seeking that compares to being seated with Jesus at God's right hand; while at the same time possessing the power that raised Him from the dead? When you really think about it, isn't it silly to spend time chasing things that hold no value, especially when the God who created everything calls you His? in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7 NIV) God did all this for us, but it goes much deeper than that; he had a plan. Out of all the beauty God created in the universe, He chose His prized creation, His bride, you and me, to display His grace and kindness for all to see, now and forever. I want to end today with the next few verses that I believe describe the pinnacle of the Gospel message, and we will pick up right here next time. In the meantime, rest in the truth that there is nothing you can do, or not do, that will ever change the love that God has for those who are in Christ Jesus. God saved you by grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.(Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)

The young women move from curiosity to desire—pivoting from, "What is it about Him" to "Where may we find Him?" Once the bride moves past the emotion that plagued her, her eyes open to the truth. She knows exactly where to find Him—He is within her—She has Him fully and now He fully has her. The King expresses so beautifully His love for her. Those who turn their lives over to Jesus collectively form His bride; but each is individually His beloved, made righteous by His blood. Nothing can ever take that away. See my last post on Song of Songs 6:1-10 https://www.jenarainonesmith.com/post/we-will-follow-you-as-you-seek-after-him The [Woman]: “I went down into the orchard of nuts and out to the valley to see the springtime there, to see whether the grapevines were budding or the pomegranates were blossoming yet. Before I realized it, I was stricken with terrible homesickness and wanted to be back among my own people.”Songs 6:11-12 TLB It's springtime again—God makes all things—Mercy is new every morning Her desire shifts from her need to theirs. The Young Women of Jerusalem: “Return, return to us, O maid of Shulam. Come back, come back, that we may see you once again.” The [Woman]: “Why should you seek a mere Shulammite?” King Solomon: “Because you dance so beautifully.Songs 6:13 TLB Now fully His, she dances the dance of grace. Grace. It's so attractive. It's also, humanly speaking, rare, and oftentimes seemingly out of reach. Have you experienced it? You'd know. Have you ever extended it? If you have, I'd venture to say it probably wasn't easy. True grace is not earned, but freely given, and generally does not happen out of order. In other words, grace must first be received before it's sincerely given. The fullness of grace is in Jesus Christ and if you carry His name, He is within you. The Shulamite woman was not even aware she could dance, let alone dance the dance of grace. If you follow her story, you know it didn't start this way. Metaphorically, she had, as we all do, two left feet that stumble. As the King led, little by little, she began to feel the music, only to find herself apprehensive and afraid to dance. Nevertheless, knowing what a beautiful dancer she could become, He continued to reach for her hand. I'm watching someone I love with all my heart dance this dance so beautifully. Married over 20 years, they had their challenges. She started married life in a country not her own and with immediate family on two different continents, close friends became family. A few of years ago, a job led to a relocation. Again, finding herself in a place not her own, it was another difficult move, but to her delight God turned it into the sweetest time in their marriage. Unfortunately, six months later, he had a heart attack, followed by a stroke that led to many other complications, leaving him completely dependent on her. Thankfully, his mind and personality were left untouched. Words cannot express how difficult it has been for her to see her husband in such pain. She's described the oneness of their relationship in such a way that I imagine can only be found through this kind of suffering. I can remember her saying to me through tears, "I don't think I truly understood what God meant by two becoming one flesh until now—I physically feel his pain." Never leaving his side, she takes care of him in every way, with very little help. I have never, before now, witnessed this kind of hardship. Through the difficulties they face—and there are many—she never hesitates to give glory to God. The kind of grace I've witnessed in and through her is supernatural and I don't believe exists beyond the grace of God. Without a shadow of a doubt, God has called her to walk a difficult path. Little does she realize, as she walks forward in faith and battles exhaustion, weariness and moments of fear, those of us who love her look on in amazement at how beautifully she dances with her King. I'm sure she would have chosen differently if she could, but she has become a picture of the grace of God in my life. How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O noble daughter! Songs 7:1 ESV God entrusts few with this kind of suffering; it's a high calling. If you find yourself here, remember this, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed (Ps 34:18). I imagine that it is here He is most visible—to you—and through you.

Jeff and I have had some sweet morning time lately. We got a kitty, Charlie. Jeff gets up a bit earlier than I do to feed him and then I meet them in our front room where there is a big window and a pretty view. While Charlie sits on a bench in front of the window watching the butterflies and birds, Jeff and I sit on the couch, enjoying our family time, reading and listening to the Bible. Recently, God revealed Himself in a new way that deepened our understanding of Him, each other, marriage, and relationships in general. In case you don't already know the story about the prophet Hosea, God told him to "Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution" (vs1:2 NLT). Yep, you read that right! God often taught His people through a prophet's life. Hosea's story mirrored God's relationship with a rebellious people who would betray Him over and over again. So Hosea married Gomer, and as predicted, she had children who were conceived in prostitution. The Lord said, name your daughter Lo-ruhamah—un-loved (vs6) and your son Lo-ammi—not my people (vs8). Now I know this seems harsh, but watch what God does. Not realizing that all she had was from her husband, Gomer chased her lovers for what she thought she needed. God instructed Hosea to let her go. He does the same with us. He doesn't force Himself upon anyone and He definitely doesn't make anyone stay against their will. He will give you over to your desire, if you desire, but He does not stop pursuing you. Gomer left—Hosea let her—God let her. He was allowing her to get to the end of herself; and she did (well mostly). Then, God said, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress" (vs3:1). Gomer was up for bid and Hosea paid the price to buy her back. Sound familiar? A picture of Jesus' redemption of man. We are saved by His grace. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we do (Eph. 2:8-9). Hosea brought Gomer back under his covering and protection but this time not as husband and wife. She still had her status, but intimacy was broken. Gomer had a choice to make, would she accept what Hosea offered—would she receive the covenant? In Ephesians 5:25 we read, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (NIV). We'll get a little deeper into this in our series in Ephesians, but for now, pay close attention to what Paul is saying here. Marriage, the way God intended it to be, is a picture of covenant. It's a covenant of covering. If a man commits to a covenant (with God) to cover His wife, then His wife will get everything she wants. But if he commits to her, over God, she is only going to get what he perceives she needs. Don't miss that. This is challenging for us. I suppose it is for most. When Jeff and I entered into a covenant of marriage as we understood it, we committed to each other. Yes, we love God and wanted Him in the middle of our marriage, BUT our covenant was with each other. However, God always intended for our covenant to be with Him and He would to lead us to each other. His way doesn't seem to make sense, but again, look a little closer. God calls Jeff to cover me as part of his covenant with Him. My role, like Gomer, is to receive, or better yet, accept it. Marriage is a physical example of the way Jesus loves His bride. He serves her—He washes her feet—He encourages her—He comforts her—He protects her—He sacrificed everything for her. If a man seeks God and loves his wife in this way, submitting to His leading will be a pleasure, as God intended. Submission is weakness in the eyes of the world, but in God's eyes, it's a sign of strength. Remember, Jesus submitted to His Father in everything. In marriage, God calls me to submit to Jeff in everything. So when differences enter in, and intimacy is broken, it's God we look to, not each other. It's our covenant with God that leads us. ". . . . And the two become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church (vs.31b,32 NIV). Jesus paid the price for all mankind, but each must receive His gift, His covenant of covering. Marriage is a blessing, but it's just a picture. You can stop serving God, worshipping Him, even loving Him—but you can't stop God from loving you. He tells His redemption story through a broken marriage, that because of His sacrifice, is made whole. Although we turn our backs on Him and worship other things, His redeeming love draws us back. . . . . God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.” And, “Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’” (Rom 9:25-26 NLT) Lo-ammi becomes Ammi (My people) and Lo-ruhamah becomes Ruhamah (Loved). His love doesn't depend on us, but intimacy does. Jesus paid the price for all mankind, but each must receive His gift, His covenant of covering. We spend so much time seeking each other in relationships; marriage, family, friendships. God never intended for us to strive to make relationships work. He says, "Imitate Me in everything you do." Now, let's go back to Ephesians 5 for a moment. Before God (via Paul) even gets to the subject of marriage, He said, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (vs.21 NIV). Think of what the world would look like if we cared for others, in every relationship, as more important than ourselves. I heard it put this way—Love goes up, then out. He's the One who deserves our respect and He asks us to direct that respect toward one another. How does humankind arrive at the conclusion that they can do things better than God? Does the clay say to the potter, "Stop, you're doing it wrong?" (see Isa.45:9) God has given us everything we need, yet we strive for more. It's so exhausting. This is one of the reasons I believe God is leading us to Ephesians. The book is split in two. The first three chapters indicate what God has done for us, the second three, what we do in response. Honestly, we don't have the power to respond without first understanding our position. True power comes from above. Any other is just an illusion; it's fleeting. Jesus redeems. Will you accept His covenant of covering? Will you allow Him to use you and to love through you?

The wisest man in the world, King Solomon, set out to find meaning in life. He began with his conclusion, everything is meaningless, like chasing after the wind. Which then begs the question, "What's the point of it all?" If everything keeps repeating, does anything actually have meaning? I can't help but identify with Solomon here. The longer I live, the more I realize how meaningless the things of this world actually are. We literally grasp at the wind on a regular basis. For what? We spin around in circles trying to achieve things that don't have any meaning at all. Who will remember it anyway? So Solomon takes us on a journey of life experiments hoping he'll find something, anything that truly matters; beginning with practical wisdom and knowledge, and even madness and folly. His conclusion so far? you guessed it, meaningless, like chasing after the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18 NKJV What a statement! Isn't it true that the more we seek after the so-called wisdom of this world, it becomes painfully evident that its interpretation looks more and more like madness and folly? Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. . . ." 1 Cor 3:18-19 NIV God's word is always on point. When you have even a glimpse into the character of God it's easy to recognize that we actually live in a perpetual opposite day. The wise of the world are fools (any doubts?!), and fools, well, God counts them as wise. In other words, to the world, God's ways are foolish, thereby making those of us who follow Him fools. So, I'd venture to say, the truly wise person is fully aware that God is God and we are not. Which kind of fool would you rather be? And then there's knowledge; I think it's safe to say it's not much different at all. As a matter of fact, on its own, even for the Christian, swells the head, not the mind or the heart. . . . .“We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 NIV Remember this is an experiment of life under the sun, with no eternity in mind. Practical wisdom and knowledge not only come up empty, they actually cause grief and sorrow, and will never satisfy. However, we find that the veil is lifted in a life set under the Son— "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2-3 NIV With no fulfillment found in wisdom or knowledge, Solomon moves on to pleasure in abundance, denying himself nothing his heart desired and to no avail of course. And then onto great projects from building houses and reservoirs to planting gardens and vineyards; acquiring servants and singers and a harem of women; amassing himself in silver and gold and special treasures. He became greater than all those before him, held onto wisdom, yet found no lasting fulfillment. (see Eccl 2:1-9) Notice, the more Solomon set his eyes on the world, the more callus his heart became. All these things felt good to him, even rewarding...well, let's let him tell us— I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. vs 10 NIV His heart's delight...but for a moment— Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. vs 11 NIV All the success, all the money, and all the ability to have both, yet he found no satisfaction. And us, ours is just a taste. Are the pleasures you seek after taking God's place in your heart? What about your achievements, your career, or your ability to make money, are they blurring your vision? Are your aspirations for your future or maybe your kid's future dangerously close to mirroring the world's? It's so easy to be pulled in the wrong direction, even with the best intentions. Think about it, we've taken pleasure and achievement to a whole new level. Desire rules right? So we should do whatever it takes to make ourselves happy. We've gone so far as to become numb to the needs of a child. Not just the pre-born, because that wasn't enough. Children are being made into sexual beings. There are people right now who are fighting to keep books in schools that contain explicit sexual content. Children, who are too young to decide their own bedtime, can make a decision to physically change who God made them to be. Why on earth do we close our eyes to such things and pretend it's not happening? You can pretend, but be sure, it is happening. Please stop chasing after the wind and wake up! What is it going to take for us to realize it's all a trap? The devil wants nothing more than for you to chase the wind rather than seek Jesus. His desire is to have you fully, but distracting you is the next best thing. The wise man’s eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all. Ecclesiastes 2:14 NKJV It's obvious that it's better to be wise, and for crying out loud we must seek Godly wisdom, not worldly, however, like Solomon we realize that the wise die and are soon forgotten just like the fool (vs16). And isn't it the fool who works aimlessly to build a legacy simply for this world? For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. Ecclesiastes 2:21 NKJV Please hear me, I'm not saying it's a bad thing to prepare and help build for the next generation, but at what expense? Jesus said to be sure you're building your foundation on Rock and not on sand. (Matt 7:24-27) Solomon concludes with this— A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 NKJV No one was in a better position to eat and drink and be merry than Solomon, but in doing so, he found little satisfaction. However, finally he acknowledges the hand of God and for a brief moment he realized that these things are not satisfying within themselves. God's creation is good, but it was not created to fill the gaping hole every human heart eventually realizes it has. Whatever is tempting you to either reject Jesus completely, take your eyes off of Him, or make Him in your own image, my sister would tell you to think ten seconds beyond that which feels good. Unfortunately, Solomon ends again chasing the wind. So far he came up empty. It's important we learn from Solomon, but don't look to him for life, look to Jesus, He's the One who has all you need. Ask yourself, if you were the one conducting Solomon's life experiments, where do you think you would land? What are you looking for to satisfy or to save you? Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

King Solomon was on a quest to find meaning in life. He seemed to start out so well, yet toward the end of his life, he concluded that everything is meaningless? (Click here to read last post) Scripture says he had everything a man could want, denying himself nothing his eyes desired, and refused his heart no pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:10); and he had an abundance of unlimited resources to accomplish just that (1 Kings 3:13). Sound enticing? Well, I'm pretty sure, if we had the same, left to ourselves, we'd end up as miserable as he was. And I'm equally sure that we'd eventually find it all meaningless, empty, like chasing the wind. (Eccl. 1:14) It seems as though Solomon's understanding of God was either a spill over of his father's faith, or maybe it was simply an intellectual connection. Whichever the case, where he found himself was in a place of rebellion and rejecting God. By the time we hear from him in Ecclesiastes, he spends most of his time explaining his world view and the conclusions he came to during that long season of his life; conclusions about life on earth, or as he called it, life under the sun. Much of what he says is not only cynical, but as we'll see, his conclusions are based on human reasoning, with no eternal perspective. However, I believe that is exactly the point. It's almost as if he's writing in his journal. It's his perspective as he lives life apart from God and God is allowing him to give us a bird's eye view of exactly what that looks like. Having said all that, I will give you a necessary spoiler alert—in the end, when he's finished telling his story, he seems to finally tap into the wisdom God had given him and concludes that all should fear God and obey His commands (Eccl. 12:13). But for now, back to Solomon's skewed perspective. It would be impossible for me to express the wealth he had in every aspect of his life, so please check out the prosperity and wisdom of Solomon's reign for yourself in 1 Kings 4 and beyond. Remember, he had everything anyone could want or need, in ridiculous proportions, yet he found himself still empty. He was not a happy guy, nor did he exude much joy at all. I mean, maybe he did for a little while, but he spent most of his life chasing the wind! Although very few of us have even a fraction of Solomon's wealth, every one of us is in danger of falling prey to the notion that happiness and fulfillment come from the things of this world. Even you Christian; we know that an eternity awaits us that's far beyond what we could ask for or imagine, yet we spend much of our time and resources making sure of the here and now. It seems the more we have, the more we want, yet the unhappier we become. And the wind is chased to-and-fro. It's confusing and exhausting. Why do we get tangled up in such things? It's no wonder Solomon's natural follow-up question is one I'd venture to say we've all asked ourselves in one form or another— What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? Ecclesiastes 1:3 NIV There it is, the million dollar question. What's it all for? Everyone eventually dies, so what's the point of it all? Is it to fatten up before we go? This was Solomon's dilemma, he spent his life doing exactly that—fattening up! As he views life, he acknowledges that time ticks on and we can do nothing to stop it. He declares that people come and go, but the earth lasts forever. Seasons repeat and the streams flow into the sea, only to return again and again (vs 1:4-7). There is this maple tree that sits outside my window. Just a few short weeks ago it's leaves changed to beautiful colors. Now, I'm in south Florida so that part was clearly God delighting me. But I digress, its leaves fell off just a few days later, as they do every year, leaving the tree looking bare and barren. But today, just like it always does at this time of year, it's leaves are back and it's lush and full of life. So Solomon was mostly right, people do come and go. So do seasons. And streams, they will continue to flow back and forth. However, the earth, that will not last forever, no matter what we do or don't do to try to make that happen; and it doesn't matter how many talking heads believe they can do exactly that. Jesus said that heaven and earth will pass away, but it's God's Word that will last forever (Matt 24:35). He will make all things new (Rev 21:5). To Solomon's point, if everything keeps repeating, is there anything gained? After all, is there anything new under the sun? (vs 1:8-10) And generations, they come and go and people are forgotten (v 1:11). That's not meant to sound morbid, but it's true. I think of my great grandparents, I'm sure they labored under the sun and yet I know very little about them, if anything at all. Life does go on. None of us are that important to this world, but to God, His beloved mattered so much that He sacrificed Himself and conquered death to solidify eternity for her. Solomon began an experiment of sorts by applying his mind to study and explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens (v 1:12-13). He's trying desperately to prove that there is a way to fill the gaping hole in the human heart. Honestly, I'm really not sure how God is going to unpack all that He wants to reveal to us as we journey with Solomon, but what He has revealed so far is really important to tuck away in your heart. God has planted in each of us a longing for something that lasts and it's been proven over and over again that people will do just about anything to find it. So, the question on the table today is this— "Will your journey to lasting fruit be under the sun, or will it be under the Son? The choice is yours. It always has been. Choose wisely, your very life depends on it. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Have you ever wondered what life is supposed to be about? Not just your life, but life in general? It's so unpredictable. Everything is fine one minute, and the next, trouble sets in. Sometimes it's one blow after another. Life is full of ups and downs and dreams and desires, and the decisions we make to remedy and fulfill them; both good and bad. Through much time and prayer, I've landed in the book of Ecclesiastes. Our author is King Solomon. Curiously enough, he likens life under the sun to chasing the wind. Seems accurate. Perhaps we'll notice parallels to our own lives along the way. Maybe his shared experience will inspire us to learn from his mistakes. After all, each of us is on a path to a forever destination, and seeking it is the most important journey you'll ever take. I pray that God awakens the sleeping, and for those of you who are already awake, may you see all that God intends. I pray you have the privilege of being used by Him as a light in a dark world—a world headed for destruction. I'm not sure how much, or even if, you are aware of the rabid immorality in our midst. That may seem like a silly statement, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that many are not aware of it at all! So let us be careful not to throw caution to the wind. With how far and fast we've fallen, there is a real danger of becoming desensitized. Jesus's exhortation is to, "take heed that no one deceives you" (Matthew 24:4). When Solomon became king, he led his whole assembly to the place of worship. He went before the altar and sacrificed a thousand burnt offerings to the LORD. Later that evening, in a dream, God appeared to Solomon, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it. Though he could have asked for anything, Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead His people. (see 2 Chronicles 1:1-10) Think about that for a moment. His heart was in the right place; at least when he was a young man. I've often wondered what I would have asked for if I were Solomon, especially early in my walk with Jesus. I think it's safe to say, it probably would not have been wisdom. Though the longer I've walked with Him, and the more I seek His heart, the more my heart and perspective align with His. Having said that, I am very grateful I've never had all Solomon ended up acquiring. God responded to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. (2 Chronicles 1:11-12a ESV). Scripture says that Solomon became wiser than all men (1 Kings 4:31). I think we can be sure that this particular part of Scripture does not align in anyway with our current situation— Just saying! Though the condition of Solomon's heart did end up in a similar place. He had much wisdom, yet his heart was still corrupt. “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?" (Jer 17:9) [The LORD continued] I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” (vs12b ESV). Solomon had a hard time following his own wisdom. God gave him everything in order that he use it to serve His people. I guess it's not difficult to imagine how that kind of money and power can rule a person. Jesus made it clear that it's impossible to serve both God and money. Notice the word serve, it's not about having, it's about whatever is ruling your heart. Somewhere along the way Solomon's eyes shifted to earthly things causing his heart to turn from the LORD. He spent so many years focusing on the horizontal, there was no more room for the Vertical. Not much has changed in the human heart has it? We spend much too much time striving to fill every earthly desire we have—seeking ways to live longer, even forever. Worshipping self, each other, stuff, status, the planet, nature, even purpose—anything but the God who created everything. We have not only become the god of our own lives, but many are deceived into believing they can become God themselves. Think about it, we have decided just because we CAN do something, we ought to; but the Bible tells us the polar opposite. Paul wrote it this way, "Everything is permissible", but not everything is beneficial. (1 Cor 10:23) Despite the fact that we look as though we're getting smarter, it's just an illusion. We've defied every moral, logical, and scientific conclusion in every aspect of human life, taking God out of everything. And unfortunately, much of the Church has stood by silently, creating a new Jesus to fit the narrative, in the name of inclusion and tolerance. Solomon had it all but he let sin rule in his heart. He made many bad choices and toward the end of his life he questioned everything. He knew God existed but wrestled with whether or not following Him mattered much. So Solomon set out to discover if there is any purpose to life apart from God. As he laments, he begins— “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 NIV To spite the obvious, I couldn't help but wonder what Solomon actually meant by meaningless? Other translations say vanity, pointless, or futile. The Hebrew word is hevel, which means, vapor or breath. That changes everything I thought he meant. He's not technically saying that life is meaningless, but rather it's empty; hard to grasp, like trying to grab hold of a mist or a vapor, it slips through your fingers. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:14b NKJV) Sounds pretty depressing doesn't it? Well, I guess if this is all there is, depressing would be an understatement. And that is precisely what Solomon is saying. It's all meaningless. Without God, it is all meaningless! If we allow ourselves, I believe we can learn a lot from Solomon. How did he go from wanting to please God by leading His people—to wanting to please himself by filling every desire he had? I think it will become clear. He sugarcoats nothing. I like that. Life is hard enough to grasp, let us not airbrush over any of it! It's essential we learn how to be honest with God as we wrestle things out before Him. Beloved, what are you striving for? Whom or what is ruling your heart? It's never too late to begin again. His mercies are new every morning. Paul nails it— "Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person. (1 Cor 10:23b-24 CSB)