The Lord Is Patient

I have noticed that I am more likely to extend a kindness to another person when I have recently received kindness or I have received kindness from the same person to whom I am extending kindness. I am appalled that I am so selfish and unkind.

Matthew 18:26 says, “So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'” This servant begged the king for mercy and patience in order to repay his debt. But the servant cruelly demanded immediate repayment of debts owed to him. Because the Lord is patient and merciful with us, we should be patient and merciful with those who may wrong us. Fortunately, He will give us the mercy and patience we need so that we can give mercy and patience to others.

Fear Limits Power

Have you ever been faced with trying something new but you let your fears keep you from doing it? When we do that, we limit what we can do and what can be done through us.

Exodus 9:16 says, “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” God wants to demonstrate His power to you and through you to the world. Don’t let your fears limit His demonstration of power.

In Step

Sometimes when we walk together, I find myself walking ahead of my wife. Due to some ailments, she just doesn’t walk as fast as I am comfortable walking. So I try to slow down to keep in step with her. Have you ever been out walking or jogging and come across a jogger with a dog also running next to him or her? Some dogs get distracted and roam far to the right or left, while other dogs stay right in step with the jogger and are not distracted.

In John 14:16-17 Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, who the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” Jesus walked with the disciples, but now He gives the Holy Spirit to live within believers. Walking in step with Jesus was fairly easy as they saw Him and kept near to Him. Now believers have the Holy Spirit within us. If we listen to His voice and follow what He says to us, we walk in step with Him. If we stay in step with the Holy Spirit, He will guide us, comfort us, heal us, and empower us to become like Jesus.

Truly Living

I retired nine years ago, so I am reaping the rewards and consequences of how I lived these seventy plus years. Looking back, some things bring tears of joy and satisfaction, like raising a wonderful family of three children and six grandchildren. But it is also the good things that God allowed me to do that bring joy and thanksgiving to my heart and mind. There were times when He blessed me so that I could bring encouragement, help, service, compassion, kindness and the gospel message to others.

I Timothy 6:18-19 says, “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Real treasures and true life is found in doing good works for others and sharing good things with others. When we become old, we will look at these things with joy and satisfaction of a life well lived. Once again, God is our example as He blesses us with good things and true life in Jesus Christ, giving us the reason and means to do good for others.

Don’t Go Back

I have lived many different places in my lifetime. Generally, I have not gone back to see the places that I have lived. It is somehow disappointing to see your old stomping grounds as the reality of the current conditions does not match in your mind, the memory and the romance of that place. Things change over time and often deteriorate.

Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” The evidence that believers are in Christ is that the power of sin has been broken by the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Live as a free child of God, and do not resubmit yourself to the chains of sin and death. Why would we choose sin and death over the freedom that Jesus gives us through redemption and the new birth?