Only in Thee
Joe Slater
	Only in Thee (#492 in our hymnals) emphasizes that our true needs are met only by our Lord. Every sentence can be easily supported by numerous Scripture citations. What a grand song!
	For now, let’s focus on the last half of the first verse:
Pleasures of earth so seemingly sweet,
	Fail at the last my longings to meet;
Only in Thee my bliss is complete,
	Only, dear Lord, in Thee.
	Oh, the profound beauty and timelessness of those words! Their sentiment is precisely that of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. That enormously wealthy king, seeking fulfillment of his innermost longings, indulged himself in every earthly pleasure money could buy. Rich food and drink; education; beautiful houses; lovely vineyards, gardens and orchards; a wide variety of entertainment; servants to wait upon him hand and foot; oh, and don’t forget all those wives and concubines – with all of these things and more Solomon pampered himself (Ecclesiastes 2:3-8; 1 Kings 11:3).
	 Human wisdom would dictate that he should have been the happiest man alive! But listen to the real result: “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:17).
	What did Solomon need? He needed the Lord, of course! Despite all his wisdom, Solomon sought satisfaction in all the wrong places. Unfortunately, we’re inclined to do the same thing today. Three things have our society hypnotized: money, sex, and entertainment. In some cases, the three are directly linked to each other. Nothing is inherently sinful about any of those three; each one has a lawful and good function. But they cannot produce fulfillment in and of themselves. Seeking happiness through these or any other earthly means will only leave us frustrated like Solomon.
	“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Yes, indeed, “Only in Thee my bliss is complete, Only, dear Lord, in Thee!”
	()	()	()	()	()	()	()
Four Steps to Accomplishment
Plan Purposefully
Prepare Prayerfully
Proceed Positively
Pursue Persistently

		--via Buchanan Dam, TX
God versus God?
	People seem to have great difficulty reconciling the wrathful God of the Old Testament with the New Testament God of love.  It is like God changed His personality.  But many Scriptures tell us God doesn't change (Malachi 3:6a).  So how can He be both a God of anger and wrath and a God of love and grace?
	We can see a hint in the rest of Malachi 3:6 –  "Therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed."  In the next verse God says, "Return to Me and I will return to you."  "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9).  God wants everyone to return to Him and He gives us time.  Is time all He gives us?
	In Hebrews 12:4-11 we learn that God will discipline His children for our own good.  Read Jeremiah 23:14-39. We see that God disciplines us to turn us back to Him.  If we ignore His first warnings and admonitions, then He will increase them until we listen and return.  The purpose is not punishment, but  redemption.  We talk about "tough love" as something new and unique, but it isn't.   "Tough love" goes back to Eden.
	Jesus demonstrated that love on the cross.   Jesus taught that heaven is worth more than whatever we give up, whatever we have to change, or whatever we endure.  Jesus also taught us that hell is eternal, more unpleasant than we can imagine.  Therefore, He paid the price of redemption so that we can turn back to the Father and live.
	God has always been the same.   God is love!  Our Father will do whatever is necessary to redeem us.
		-- Ed Wittlif (Denver, CO)