Read

Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14
1 Kings 12:1-33
2 Chronicles 10:1-11:17

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

Think

As the saying goes, you save the best for last! That's why bands always close concerts with a hit song, and dessert is always served at the end of the meal. The same is true in Ecclesiastes. The entire book explores the meaning of our fleeting lives and then ends by giving us the bottom line for how to live a meaningful and purpose-filled life: Fear and obey God.

This fear of God is a reverence that motivates rather than a revelation that paralyzes. Through twelve chapters, Solomon exposed the emptiness of pursuing life apart from God. And he should know! He had everything the world had to offer - in abundance! But he concluded that our motivation should originate with a healthy respect for the One who made us and a willingness to do what He says. That's where our purpose is found!

At the end of life, God will judge us for everything we do, think, act, and say, in both secret and public. That's when we will see the true value of where we invested our time, energy, and resources. It's when we'll celebrate all the opportunities we got to engage in for God's purposes here on Earth. Today, you can step into your best life by looking for ways to be obedient and make His name known. Let the adventure begin!

Pray

Dear God, I respect and obey You. Today, I choose to make all necessary changes to do what's right in Your eyes because I know that where You are, I will find purpose. Amen.