Thursday Devotional - Chasing After the Wind of Knowledge

Living in a big university town, I see numerous people chasing after knowledge and education. Oftentimes it is the newest philosophy or theory. Sadly, their additional degrees and increased knowledge for knowledge sake doesn’t bring true wisdom or joy. Without God, everything is meaningless, as Solomon prefaced in Ecclesiastes 2:25 (for without him [God], who can eat or find enjoyment?).

Solomon concluded the book of Ecclesiastes with:

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14   The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. ¹² Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

¹³ Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

Solomon was probably the wisest wealthiest person that ever lived. Because God gave Israel peace during his reign, he also had all the time and resources to chase after anything he wanted – pleasure, greatness, possessions, accumulation, flattery, immortality, perfection, knowledge, etc. Solomon realized all of this was meaningless (without God), as we’ve read in Ecclesiastes this summer.

What meaningless thing or knowledge are you and I chasing?

Following God is beneficial for all ages, all people and for all time!!! Others around us can better understand this truth as we experience and exhibit the joy and satisfaction of chasing after God and following Him in our own lives!

Alice

Hungry And Thirsty

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 NIV

We all have had moments where we haven't had anything to eat or drink.  Some of us get irritable, and others start to wear down.  No matter what the effect, it all means one thing.  We can't focus on little else other than that feeling of hunger or thirst.  I was reading a prayer from St. Augustine. It was energizing as he was speaking about how his love for Christ had blossomed in his early 30s.  He said words that truly resonated with me.  As the prayer ended, it read, “I tasted you, and now I hunger and thirst; you touched me, and I burned for your peace.” There are times that I did not relate to God, and I felt lost. However, there was this moment where it all changed, and I suddenly felt alive.  It has continued to this day, and I could not imagine life without Him.

Our pursuit of God should be filled with passion.  As we know relationships take a lot of work.  There are days you are tired, and others where you are frustrated.  But when it is right, there is a level of positivity and connection that is unmatched.  In today’s verses, Paul points out that we are full-fledged possessions of Christ.  So if we are truly representative of Christ, others will be attracted to Him as well (i.e. spreading the aroma of the knowledge of him).  Having the spirit of God in us means there will be joy in our hearts that is infectious to others.  It might draw a smile from some, and others might even ask why you are so happy.  This is not to say that every day will be that way, but on the days where you are not, other people notice even more those moments when you are not connected.  When we have passion for following Christ, you will know God is wired into you.  And if we are not feeling wired, we must find ways we to reconnect with Him (worship, reading scripture, helping others, volunteering, touching base with a spiritual advisor, etc.).

God intended to have fellowship with us.  This means that we should have awareness of His presence at all times, and be wary when we struggle to have that connection.  God once said to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”  God knows us that way.  It is not to say He will look favorably no matter what we do, but He always knows of us.  Our goal is to pursue Him as passionately as St. Augustine did; to be touched and burn for His peace.  Let us not lose sight of that.  Where is your passion meter for Christ today?  What disciplines have you identified as things that increase your awareness of God?  My prayer is that we focus intently on God where we hunger and thirst for Him.  Amen.