spending time with God

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 – Remember Before It’s Too Late

Read Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

Solomon doesn’t want us to wait too long to remember the importance of God. This passage should speak loudly, even yell, at young people today. Sadly, I could recognize myself in some of the “older” traits Solomon describes here. The outward signs of aging are becoming more of a reality for me. Yet, most of the time, I am in denial that I have reached and passed “middle age.” Thankfully, I remembered long ago how important God is to me. Solomon just confirms that significance.

But whether you are young or old, it is never too late to give devotion to God. He wants to be the ruler of our lives no matter what age we are. I think Solomon worried that the older we get, the more set in our ways we become and making changes can be hard. If we aren’t already remembering God and thinking of him regularly, it can get harder the more time passes.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – The Right Time

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Time is a precious commodity. Once we spend it, we can’t get it back. This passage suggests there is a right and wrong time for doing things. Was Solomon’s wisdom causing him to overthink again? For the most part, I think he’s “spot on.” The problem is, we may not always know what the “right” time is for doing these things.

Thankfully, God’s timing is always perfect. I’ve heard that my whole life, and I’m sure I’ve said it dozens of times to help someone patiently wait. As we read through Solomon’s list of time sensitive aspects of life, I found myself nodding my head in agreement, remembering those times in my own life.

Mark 2:18-22 – What About Fasting?

Read Mark 2:18-22

You might be thinking, “What is fasting in the first place?” It’s definitely more than just a diet! While fasting involves abstaining from food and/or drink, fasting also needs to include spiritual renewal, from shutting out the world to spending time in God’s presence. This is not a community event but a personal one between you and God. You can pray, read Scripture, sing praise songs, or sit quietly and listen. Always be listening for God’s voice whether you’re fasting or not.

What did you think about the contrast between Jesus’ followers and those of John the Baptist? John’s followers, along with other religious leaders, would lean toward the side of piety and following rules. It seems that Jesus’ followers were less focused on those “traditions,” and this verse brilliantly tells us why. The more pious would have been looking down on what Jesus’ followers were doing.