Daily Devotionals

'Every Day Light' with Selwyn Hughes

Devotional: August 15th

For Reading and Meditation:
     Ecclesiastes 11:3-4

The verses before us today bring home to us our powerlessness to change certain things. Like the weather, for instance. When clouds are full of rain they drench the earth, says Solomon. There is simply no point in focusing on the things that are unchangeable. Far better to get on with living and work at changing the things that can be changed. A sign on a rough road somewhere in northern Canada reads: "Choose your rut carefully. You'll be in it for the next 200 miles." Solomon's advice is that we should do everything in our power to stay out of ruts. How many of you are stuck in ruts and have settled for a drab, predictable life when you could be using your God-given creativity to explore new things? Don't just drift through life - pursue it. Instead of thinking about the predictable things of life and giving all your attention to those, turn your gaze to new activities and new ideas. If you have retired, then come out of retirement. I don't mean go back to doing what you used to do, but take up new interests. Study for a degree, start helping a group of some sort to do something. You won't have the same energy that you had when you were forty, of course, but don't stop being creative. Don't get into a rut. William Gladstone, four times prime minister of Britain, was eighty-three when he was last appointed. Shame on you that you stand around and just watch the wind. Don't drift like a lazy cloud. Pursue something new and beautiful for God.

O God, forgive me that I spend so much time worrying about such things as whether it's going to rain or shine, instead of pursuing new things and new purposes. I'm through with all that, dear Lord. I'm choosing life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.