Introductory Thoughts
Paul and Barnabas admonished the heathen to turn from “vanities unto the living God.” One cannot trust in the Lord and simultaneously trust in anything else. In order for an individual to be saved, he must repent of trusting in anything other than the Lord. One aspect of repentance involves ceasing to trust vanity and turning one’s faith toward the living and true God. This saving faith needs to become a living faith following salvation. Believers should consistently turn from “vain thoughts” and love the law of God (Psalm 119:113). They should turn from the vain labours that spend their strength for nought (Isaiah 49:4) and be “steadfast . . . in the work of the Lord” knowing that their “labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Additionally, believers should turn from “vain words” (Ephesians 5:6) and hold “forth the word of life” (Philippians 2:16).
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): Peter was serving the Lord as a fisher of men. Then Peter decided to go back to his old job of fishing. Fishing is not wrong, but Jesus wanted Peter to love Him more than fishing and also expected Peter to do what He had told him to do (John 21:3, 15-17). Even good things can be worthless to us if they are not what God wants us to do.
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(For everyone): Have you put your trust in the Lord for your eternal life? From what vanities did you turn in order to do so? From what vanities do you need to turn now that you are saved?
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Are your thoughts, words, and labours vain? What would happen if you stood at the judgment seat of Christ today? Will you turn from these vanities unto the living God?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to forgive you where you have given yourself to vanity.
- Ask God to help your work, thoughts, and speech to glorify Him.
Song
At Calvary
