Computer problems make this title almost prophetic!  Troubles connecting…annoying delays…possible ‘virus’ lurking inside this infernal machine.  You must know that I am not a computer whiz.  How could you ever tell?!   If it were up to me, I’d be writing longhand. Hopefully, this is not ‘in conclusion’ of my ‘Reflections’ devotional!

Reading the book of Ecclesiastes puts us on a great journey with King Solomon.  Life poses many questions and quandaries.  We ask the big question: ‘why’.  Why does God allow such evil to go unchecked?  Why do God’s people suffer?  Why am I so timid about sharing the Lord, when on most any other topic I can ‘wax eloquent!’ for probably way too long?   Why…why…why?

We all ask these questions, but where are the answers?   I’ve known some well-meaning Christians who thought that they had all the answers.  They seemed complacently satisfied with them.  Glib, superficial responses(or so I’ve concluded) to the strains and struggles of life.  I don’t enjoy being around those people.  Feels like they’re telling me to keep quiet or worse.  Quit bugging them with my infernal questions.

I don’t see it that way.  Airing whatever perplexes me, exercises my faith.  Sees more of life’s depth and width, exposing gaps that only faith in Jesus can fill.  But not those easy answers.  No.  Sometimes we have to admit that we don’t have a clue.  No idea.  I see life through a different set of lenses. See humor in most things.  Not all, certainly.  But quite a few.  That’s me.  But, my humor can be off-putting to some.  As their personalities can be for me.  Regardless, we are told to love one another.  Wish them God’s very best.  Pray for them.  But we don’t have to like them or spend extra time with those who grate us in all the wrong ways.  Do we?  Maybe I should try harder?  Is that what you’re thinking?  Could be.

Solomon tries to find meaning and happiness in his life.  You name it, he tried it.  All to no avail.  So, what’s his conclusion?  I love what he says–‘fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man'(Ecclesiastes 12:13).  Simple words, to-the-point.  Bare-bones.  A skeleton that we are to flesh out through the personality the Lord has given us.  Don’t muck it up with myriad rules and regulations(as the Pharisees did).

Worship the Lord.  Look to Him.  Know His Word.  Keep His commandments.  That’s it.  Live freely-as we were created to be.  Be myself.  As different as I am from you.  And you, from the rest of us.  But, all… ‘in Christ’.  God living through us.  Wanting our obedience, yes.  Reliant on Him, always.  Being who we are.  Knowing whose we are.  That’s the ‘whole enchilada’…see what I mean?!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for making us who we are.  At your feet, we will find freedom.  In Jesus Christ.  Amen.