Daily Devotionals

'Every Day Light' with Selwyn Hughes

Devotional: September 6th

For Reading and Meditation:
     Ecclesiastes 6:10-11

Solomon is "above the sun" now, putting the focus once again on God. "At life's core," says Dr. Larry Crabb, "the real issues are theological issues." When life is brought down to its irreducible minimum, the issue always is - God. What do we make of Him? How does He fit into our lives? Have you not found that whenever you make sure God is in His place, everything around you falls into place too? You see things from a different perspective. God is sovereign, Solomon is saying here, and the sooner we recognize that the better. A purpose was written into the universe long before we arrived, and though at times it may look as if God is not in control, this is not so. And, he adds, because God is bigger than we are, it is useless to put ourselves in conflict with Him (v. 10). C. S. Lewis put it well when he said in The Problem of Pain: "To argue with God is to argue with the very power that makes it possible to argue at all." How different life would be for us if we would get hold of the fact that God is sovereign and that we are His subjects. God is the Potter; we are the clay. God is omnipotent; we are impotent - relatively speaking, anyway. God is consistent; we are inconsistent. God has a crystal-clear perspective on everything; we more often than not are confused. What is all this saying to us? Arguing against the divine purpose is a waste of time. Better to trust the Almighty; He always knows what He is doing.

O God, help me to have confidence in Your confidence. When I don't know what to do, help me see that that is a dilemma You never experience. I draw new strength and encouragement from Your sovereignty and power. Blessed Lord, I love You. Amen.