“LOVING GOD”
OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: 1 John 4 (Focus vs.10–21)
MEMORY VERSE
“We know and rely on the love God has for us.” 1 John 4:16
BACKGROUND
The professor ended his online class in one of two ways each time. He’d say, “See you next time” or “Have a good weekend.” Some students would respond with “Thank you. You too!”
But one day a student responded, “I love you.” Surprised, he replied, “I love you too!” That evening the classmates agreed to create an “I love you chain” for the next class time in appreciation for their professor who had to teach to a screen on his computer, not in-person teachi…
[2:59 AM, 1/27/2022] Pastor RichUSA: “TRUE HAPPINESS”
OUR DAILY BREAD (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
JANUARY 26, 2022
READ: Ecclesiastes 3:9–14
MEMORY VERSE
“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.” Ecclesiastes 3:12
BACKGROUND
In the tenth century, Abd al-Rahman III was the ruler of Cordoba, Spain. After fifty years of successful reign (“beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies”), al-Rahman took a deeper look at his life.
“Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call,” he said of his privileges. But when he counted how many days of genuine happiness he’d had during that time, they amounted to just fourteen. How sobering.
The writer of Ecclesiastes was also a man of riches and honor (Ecclesiastes 2:7–9), power and pleasure (1:12; 2:1–3). And his own life evaluation was equally sobering.
Riches, he realized, just led to a desire for more (5:10–11), while pleasures accomplished little (2:1–2), and success could be due to chance as much as ability (9:11). But his assessment didn’t end as bleakly as al-Rahman’s.
Believing God was his ultimate source of happiness, he saw that eating, working, and doing good could all be enjoyed when done with Him (2:25; 3:12–13).
“O man!” al-Rahman concluded his reflections, “place not thy confidence in this present world!”
The writer of Ecclesiastes would agree. Since we’ve been made for eternity (3:11), earthly pleasures and achievements won’t satisfy by themselves. But with Him in our lives, genuine happiness is possible in our eating, working, and living.
By: Sheridan Voysey
INSIGHT
Ecclesiastes 3 emphasizes humanity’s inability to discern the ways in which God’s plan and purposes are at work, suggesting that this is often experienced by people as a “burden” (v. 10).
For although God has “set eternity in the human heart . . . no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (v. 11). The word translated “eternity” (Hebrew ‘olam) can be translated in a variety of ways.
Here, some scholars argue it means “the age to come,” some say it refers primarily to the future, and others believe it refers to how all of time is connected.
Whatever the meaning, the teacher in Ecclesiastes suggests that trying too hard to understand life’s whys or the ways in which God’s purposes will be realized will make it impossible to find satisfaction in the ups and downs of daily life (v. 12).
By: Monica La Rose
APPLICATION
What do you turn to most to find happiness? How can you eat, work, and do good with God today?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
Poor brother Abd al-Rahman if only someone had pointed this scripture to him earlier on in His life: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6
“Happiness is not out there, it’s in you.” Anonymous
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (My Re-Emphasis from Post)
“…with Him in our lives, genuine happiness is possible in our eating, working, and living.”
PRAYER
“Heavenly Father, today I will do all things with You by my side.”
*YOUR TAKE? 
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL
“ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL’ Bill Staines
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
‘Twas God that made them all
Each little flower that opens
Each little bird that sings
He made their glowing colors
And made their tiny wings
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
‘Twas God that made them all
The purple headed mountains
The rivers running by
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
‘Twas God that made them all
The cold wind in the winter
The pleasant summer sun
The ripe fruits in the garden
He made them every one
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
‘Twas God that made them all
He gave us eyes to see them
And lips that we might tell
How great is the Almighty
Who has made all things well
All things bright and beautiful..
All things bright and beautiful
All things bright and beautiful…
‘Twas God that made them all…
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (THIS WEEK)
THE BOOK OF JUDGES CHAPTERS 8-14
PSALMS 8-14