July 15 Treasure the Moments －Ecclesiastes 3：1-14

What a coincidence when we discuss Su Dongpo (also known as Su Shi) was one of China’s greatest poets and essayists about how much he missed his brother while in exile. He wrote, “we rejoice and grieve, gather and leave, while the moon waxes and wanes. Since times of old, nothing remains perfect. May our loved ones live long, beholding this beautiful scene together though thousands of miles apart.”

His poem reveals the same themes found in the book of Ecclesiastes. The author, known as the Teacher, observed that there’s “a time to weep and a time to laugh . . . a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing” (3:4–5).

By pairing two contrasting activities, the Teacher, like Su Dongpo, seems to suggest that all good things must inevitably come to an end. As Su Dongpo saw the waxing and waning of the moon as another sign that nothing remains perfect, the Teacher also saw in creation God’s providential ordering of the world He’d made. God oversees the course of events, and “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Life may be unpredictable and sometimes can be with painful separations, but we can take heart that everything takes place under God’s gaze. We can enjoy life and treasure the moments—the good and the bad—for our loving God is with us. 

February 28, 2021 New Every Morning – Lamentations 3：19-26

In certain stages of our lives, we experienced some severe forms of affliction and tormenting. It was beyond our control with one’s finances and human abilities. We could not imagine how bleak in the future and the situation was hopeless. At that moment, we cried out...

February 27, 2021 No Longer Yourself – Galatians 2：14-21

Before I was baptized to become a Christian, it was hard to believe what in the bible said and then I began to walk with God. All these were incredible and I wouldn’t believe I could do as the bible demands. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has...

February 26, 2021 Facing Fear – Psalms 56：3-11

When someone made up some story of false accusation or slander against us, how would you handle this kind of situation. It is quite common in a political campaign or an election. This really made our life upside down and distressful. The only solution is to clarify...

February 25, 2021 To Be Human – Philippians 4：6-8

There is an old Chinese adage: A real man sheds blood but not tears. That implies if one cries to show that he is weak. So when we were young as a boy, we tried not to cry for any reasons. But when I grew older I learned from books saying that crying was a sign to...

February 24, 2021 Never Alone – Ecclesiastes 4：8-12

Loneliness is an all-time high afflicted disease of all ages, social or economic status. Particularly in our digital era and pandemic plague, there are alarming rates of increasing loneliness in our society. And in the long term, the symptoms will become depression....