Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Devotion: We started off the week by diving into the topic of God’s providence, and we have slowly made our way back to it. The story of Ruth and Boaz is filled with His providence, and reading it helps us to better understand the character of God.
I really like what the Heidelberg Catechism has to say about providence.
“Question: What do you understand by the providence of God?
Answer: The almighty, everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were, by his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things come not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.”
He upholds heaven and earth. He governs it all:
Herbs and grass,
Rain and drought,
Fruitful and barren years,
Meat and drink,
Health and sickness,
Riches and poverty.
None of it is by chance. And while there are moments of life that are very hard to deal with and difficult to understand why the Lord would let them come to pass, we can find great comfort in knowing that He ordains everything that comes to pass. Nothing is on accident. Nothing is unknown to Him. Knowing that God is the Author behind it all and that His aim is to work it all together for His glory and my good brings incredible peace. May we understand that there is a season for everything, much like our Scripture for today says. Each season appointed by our Heavenly Father.
We can find solace in knowing that He is the God who sees, He is always on time, and nothing takes Him by surprise. Much like Ruth and Naomi trusted the Lord in every season of their lives, we can too. None if it is by chance, but rather is all provided by His hand.
Reflect:
- How would you describe your current season of life?
- Reflect on your life and your surroundings. How can you see the hand of God at work?
