“‘Vanity of vanities,’ says Qoheleth, ‘vanity of vanities! All is vanity.’” Ecclesiastes 1:2
If you stop and think about it, how true these words of Qoheleth (Solomon, the teacher and assembler of these words of wisdom) are of our lives in this world! All the things people pursue in life are truly nothing more than vanity, for we all die and are forgotten by future generations. Our work perishes and is lost in the dust of time. What truly matters is that which endures the passing of time. How important it is to repent of our sinful ways and look in faith to Christ Jesus for mercy so that we might have forgiveness and the eternal blessings of heaven!
Grant that I see, O LORD, the vanities of this life and live for the life to come, repenting of the sin and evil in my life and holding fast to Your mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus and His cross. Amen.
“The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.” Proverbs 3:19-20
The existence and the complexity of the earth and the heavens above reveal the great wisdom and understanding of the LORD God, our Creator. It was by His infinite knowledge that He designed this world and the vast universe, as well as the way all things work together to sustain our lives.
O LORD God, grant that I see in Your creation Your infinite wisdom and knowledge, and that I honor You as my Maker and my Redeemer. Amen.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3
How did the eternal God create the heavens and the earth? The Hebrew word for “created” (בָּרָ֣א) indicates that God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing. He spoke the word, saying, “Let there be …” and it came into existence. As “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light,” so God created all things by His mighty word (Read Genesis 1:1-2:3).
O all-wise and almighty God, I praise and honor You for calling all things into existence by Your mighty Word. Amen.
“To man He said: ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:28
What is it to have true wisdom and understanding? It is to fear and honor the Lord God who made us and to depart from evil by repenting of the sin and wickedness in our lives and looking to God for mercy and forgiveness in the shed blood of Christ Jesus, our Savior.
O gracious God, have mercy upon us, forgive our foolishness for Jesus’ sake, and grant us wisdom from Your Word and the understanding needed to depart from evil and to live for You. Amen.
“And God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am,’ and He said, ‘You will say this to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.”’ ” Exodus 3:14
What is God’s name? That is what Moses asked God when God appeared to him at the burning bush to send him back to Egypt to lead His people out of captivity. God’s answer, “I am,” fittingly describes Him as the eternal God who is. He has no beginning and no end. He always was, He always is, and He always will be! The true God — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our Maker and our Redeemer — is the eternal “I am.”
O eternal God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — You created me, and You redeemed me! Grant that I may honor You as the true God and look to You for mercy in the shed blood of Christ Jesus, the only-begotten Son and my only Savior. In His name, I pray. Amen.
