February 20, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Anxiety

13 Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. 14 For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place. 16 There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

Characteristic 4—Power Does Not Bring Peace

Solomon concludes this portion of text by reminding everyone of the meaninglessness of human power and authority. God does raise up leaders and He ordains human governments. But, power and prestige do not bring lasting peace and joy.

Only Christ can bring these gifts to us.

Kings come and go and kingdoms will ultimately cease. To trust in human power and authority is a foolish venture. It is certainly “vanity and vexation of the Spirit.”

There is more to the story. The good news of the gospel tells us that Jesus entered into “life under the sun.” The Word of God teaches us that Christ lived for our righteousness, died for our sins, and was raised again on the third day. And that all who believe in Him and trust in Christ shall be saved.

It is life in Christ that brings ultimate joy, peace, and hope. Life under the sun is helpless, senseless, and totally unfulfilling. Life in Christ gives us God’s presence, God’s power, and God’s promises. Life on this planet does not have to be dull and monotonous. Through Christ, we can have strength, love, and abundance. As Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 15:57, “thanks be to God who gives us the victory.”

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under Ecclesiastes

Tagged as , , ,

February 17, 2025 · 9:00 am

Love One Another

“Love one another.” (John 13:34)  This command is given 15 times in the New Testament. Over and over again, we, as Believers, are commanded to love one another. It is one of the most oft-repeated directives in all of Holy Scripture.

We should love one another because Christ first loved us. (1 John 4:19)  Jesus’ love was shed abroad through His life, ministry, death, and resurrection. He loved us when we were far from Him. (Romans 5:8-11)  Therefore, we should love one another as God has loved us. Christ’s love for us should serve as an impetus for loving our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let us also love one another because it reflects the character of God. The Scriptures teach us that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8)  Love is not optional if we desire to accurately reflect the truth of God as we seek to minister and witness to the lost. Our love for one another is a most powerful “proof” that we are in Christ. (John 13:35)  People can argue with many things. But, they can’t argue with our love for one another when it is portrays the nature of God.

We ultimately love one another because it is commanded by the Word of God.  The command is clear and direct. If we are Christians who take the Scriptures seriously, we must love our fellow believers.

Yes, we are called to love all people. Learning to love all people begins with learning to love our fellow Christian. It is not always easy, but, it is always worth the cost.  Will you make a commitment to grow in your love for one another today?

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under Devotion

Tagged as , ,

February 13, 2025 · 9:00 pm

People Need People

9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

The third characteristic of “life under the sun” is the dependence of human beings on other human beings. No one is truly autonomous and solitary. Every person needs people.

Characteristic 3—We Need Others

Life “under the sun” reveals our great need for one another. No one is truly an island unto themselves. We need others in so many ways.

We need others to help us, comfort us, and walk with us. We need other people in our lives because no one can do everything. The interdependence of the human race is seen in our economy, our homes, and churches.

Let’s give thanks that God places people in our lives to help get through this life. Family, friends, and neighbors are vital to sustaining us until we see Jesus.

The church is important to Christians as we seek to live out the principles of God’s Word each day. Be faithful and be in fellowship with the church. We need the church, and we need each other more than we will ever know.

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under Ecclesiastes

Tagged as , , , ,

February 10, 2025 · 9:00 am

New Heaven, New Earth

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4

The New Heaven and the New Earth will be………………………

**Eternal

**Beautiful

**A Place of Togetherness

**Complete Contentment for All

**Forever New

**For Believers

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under Devotion

Tagged as , ,

February 6, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Under The Sun #2

4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. 5 The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. 6 Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: 8 There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-8

We are examining the second characteristic of “life under the sun” from the book of Ecclesiastes this week. And that second characteristic found in chapter 4 is the dearth of lasting peace. Life without God does not lead to peace and contentment. Let’s examine.

Characteristic 2—No Lasting Peace

Another feature of life on this earth is a lack of peace. Nothing in this life can fulfill us for very long. 

Our work doesn’t lead us to peace. Instead, it leads to bitterness, envy, and covetousness. Solomon laments the meaninglessness and vanity of labor under the sun.

Don’t misunderstand the point. Work is good and is given by God. God provides for us through our work and labor. It is far better to work and be productive than to be lazy and ineffectual.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that though work has a purpose, it can never bring lasting peace. Labor when seen outside of the sovereignty and the purview of God, is mere drudgery and monotony. But, when work is kept in its proper perspective as a gift from God, it becomes something altogether different. Keep this in mind when the alarm clock rings next Monday!

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under Ecclesiastes

Tagged as , ,

February 3, 2025 · 9:00 am

Unchanging

God is immutable. In His essential nature and person, God never changes. He works in different ways at different times. But, He never alters or wavers in His attributes and in who He is. Consider the following…….

**God’s Power Never Changes

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

Romans 1:16

**God’s Word Never Changes

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Isaiah 40:8

**God’s Character Never Changes

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

**God’s Promises Never Change

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 

2 Corinthians 1:20

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under Devotion

Tagged as , , , ,

January 30, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Under The Sun #1

1 Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter– On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. 3 Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

“Life under the sun” is a phrase that Solomon uses extensively in this book. Some say it simply implies to the earth and all things related to it.

Other scholars also believe that the phrase refers to a purely humanistic perspective of life that precludes the presence of God. In this view, Solomon is examining life purely in human terms with only limited references to God or His working.  Both views have interpretive merit. Keep these in mind as we examine the characteristics of life under the sun.

Characteristic 1—Oppression “Under The Sun”

Oppression is abundant in our world. Unfairness and injustice permeate the very fiber of this sinful planet. Injustice in our day and time is overt and systemic.

Yet, there seems to be little that can done to overcome it. While we must fight for justice and help the poor and oppressed, we know that our efforts will never be powerful enough to help everyone. Thanks be to God for His ultimate judgement which will set things right once and for all.

Tony French

4 Comments

Filed under Ecclesiastes

Tagged as , , ,

January 27, 2025 · 9:00 am

Glorify

We, as Christians are commanded to glorify God. All throughout the Scriptures, we see the command to give glory and honor to God occurring again and again.

The word glorify translates a word with several variations of meaning. One meaning is this—“to adorn with glory.”  As God’s people, we are to give God glory, honor, and praise. We have the wonderful task of adorning God with glory in our character, our conversation, and our conduct.

May we be reminded to glorify God as we live out this day.

Psalm 86:12 I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.

Haggai 1:8 “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Luke 2:20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. 

Romans 15:6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

January 23, 2025 · 9:00 pm

The Day Of The Lord

14 I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. 15 That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past. 16 Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there. 17 I said in my heart, “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” 18 I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.” 19 For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth? 22 So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

Ecclesiastes 3:14-22

Wickedness and evil are having their day. But, that day is only temporary. Jesus will return to set things right.

One of the great themes of the Bible is the final judgement of God. There is coming a time when all will be judged. The strong and the weak, plus the righteous and the wicked will all be adjudicated. Those who reject Christ will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14-15). The Christian will stand before God for how they used the gift of life to serve the Savior (Romans 14:10).  Are you ready for judgement day?

Friends, we are not mere animals despite Solomon’s assertion in verse 19. We are created in God’s image to serve Him and enjoy Him forever. Our lives have meaning and purpose through Jesus. Christ died in our place and was judged in our stead. Through Him we have life eternal, reconciliation with God, and adoption into God’s family.

Trust in Christ today. He is your only hope for salvation (John 14:6). Don’t wait.

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under Ecclesiastes

January 20, 2025 · 9:00 am

Overcoming Doubt

But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.  And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”   

Luke 24:37-39

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus reveals Himself to His disciples as the resurrected Savior and Lord. He had promised that He would be resurrected from the dead. Now, they were experiencing the results of this miracle firsthand. Jesus, the one crucified just days earlier, stood before them in all of His resurrection glory.

But, contrary to the evidence in front of them, His disciples still doubted.  They were startled and filled with fear. The need for Jesus reassurance was palpable as Christ reintroduced Himself to His followers.

We often struggle with doubt as Christians today. We know what we believe, yet, we have a difficult time appropriating what we believe in the midst of the uncertainties of life. Our difficulties often lead to doubt and, if we don’t deal with it, despair.

What is the answer for doubt? Faith! To overcome doubt we must hold to the truth of God despite all that may come our way. We must continue to believe no matter how bleak the situation looks. We must continue to trust God even when it seems all hope may be lost. We must believe in what has been revealed to us, not what we can merely see. Overcoming doubt requires a strengthening of our faith.

Faith grows as we remember that God is faithful. Faith increases as we recall God’s faithfulness in the past. It doesn’t happen overnight, but, focusing on faith in God will yield results.

Mind you, overcoming doubt is not a simple task. Perhaps we will struggle with doubt for the rest of our lives. However, we don’t have to life in doubt every single moment. We can learn to live in faith and trust. Doubt and fear can be replaced with hope and trust over time.

Dear Christian, let us commit to growing in faith and vanquishing doubt today!

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under Devotion

Tagged as , ,