Now all has been heard;
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2018%3A10&version=NIV
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
Ever go to convention for your job? You listen to speakers and if they are really good, you come home inspired, ready to take charge of your career. It doesn’t matter what the topic of a conference is, whether it be for work or for your faith, there is often a renewed energy that follows.
I just returned from a men’s retreat in New Hampshire. It was my sixth time in ten years and it was the best one yet. I no longer go to the church that I traveled with, but I got to hangout with my brothers that I love and have known for a very long time. The speakers this year focused on the idea of “SAY YES.”
In the book, that I can never seem to spell correctly, I Godincidently came across the same thing (I love when He does that kind of alignment). It’s pretty clear that when you get some sort of message whether it at a conference or weekly sermon, you are not just to listen, but to do it. To add to that, if you do take on the “doing it” it can’t be short-lived but something for the long haul. I love the bluntness of The Message version of James 1:22-24:
22-24 Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.
James 1:22-24 (MSG) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201%3A22-25&version=MSG
Sadly, and I am just as guilty, we listen on Sunday and go about our business on Monday. God wants more from us than sitting idle for an hour. There are 167 more hours to do God’s business, not just ours. Your approach to the world needs to be this:
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Colossians 3:23 (NIV) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A23&version=NIV
Perspective matters! You may not like your boss (or if your are a student, your teacher/professor) but you are not working for them, so your feelings don’t matter. God is our boss and it is He who we please.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 is a cry out to seek Him in all things, even if the things are not to our liking. When we look at it closely we see that there is so much love in this verse. The idea of FEAR as we think it is is not how we need to interpret it, though:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
God is to be respected, revered, deeply admired, and so forth. He is worthy of our everything. In no way are we to cowl in a corner waiting to for the hand of God to smite us. Unfortunately, that’s influence religion has had. When we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, imitate him in every way, and say YES to what we are called to do, we are pleasing God and that is what matters most.
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The subsequent series of posts, 66 in all, can be used as a devotional. Each book of the Bible is unpacked by me each morning by examining: • context (historical and biblical) • connotations and denotations • connections (verses around it and cross-references) • character (God’s and mine) • commission (how can I go out and do it) I do hope you enjoy and…
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“Read another pastor’s post…it’s better,”
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“If Shel Silverstein wrote Lamentations,”
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“Great is Your Faithfulness to Me”
66 Verses: Devotional 
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