Reluctant Retiree

We have a couple choices when we see weakness or failings in others. We can choose to take advantage of the situation by criticizing them and heaping more trouble upon them, so that we can please ourselves in some way. Or we can choose to ignore selfish desires and seek to help the person in their weakness.

Romans 15:1-3 says, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.'” Once again Jesus is our example. He did not live to please himself, but rather took on himself all the weaknesses and failings of us in order to save us and redeem us as His own children. Let us strive in God’s power to build others up.

Have you ever received something from another person that sparked a thought within you of something you should do for someone else? Isn’t that what giving is about? We receive something freely so that we can give freely to someone else. Perhaps you received some help moving, so you find yourself volunteering to help someone else move. Or maybe you were given some new electronic gadget and immediately think of a person who needs the same thing, so you go out of your way to make sure that person receives the needed item.

Romans 13:8 says, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” We should consider ourselves to be in debt to those we come in contact with. We owe them love, because God has freely loved us and loves them as well. God’s love is meant to be held onto tightly only so that we can share it with others freely.

Have you ever noticed how things can give us joy and satisfy our hearts for but a short period of time? We enjoy the new car feel and smell for a while, until our hearts yearn for something newer and fancier. Our new home satisfies us for a period, until its features get old and our needs grow. The new job fills us with excitement until the same things that bothered us about our old job rise up in the new environment. Where can we find joy that will last?

Psalm 100:1, 4 says, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Joy flows to our hearts and souls from the river of thanksgiving and praise. Give thanks to God for all He has done for you and joy will fill your soul.

Occassionaly we experience something so unexpected that we call this event astonishing. It could be the majestic mountains of Yosemite or the beautiful rivers winding through a forest. It may be the birth of a child or an unexpected kindness given to us. Beyond the actual event, the astonishing thing is what created the circumstances or sights to take place.

After Jesus healed a young boy, Luke 9;43 says, “And all were astonished at the majesty of God.” God’s works never cease to astonish those who behold them honestly, because God’s majesty is far beyond all we can imagine. His power and love for us move us to depths of emotion and understanding that we have never experienced before.

Our hometown is having a Fire and Ice Festival today. As a major part of the festival, ice carver artists are making ice statues on downtown streets. We went and watched part of these festivities. The artists use all sorts of tools to chip or cut away sections of ice to create their statues. They can look at a piece of ice and see the end product that they wish to carve.

Isaiah 64:8 says, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” God wants to mold each of us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Just like creating the ice scuptures by cutting away of useless parts to create a beautiful statue, God will need to chip away some less desirable parts of us to create the person that He designs us to be and one who can produce good works in His name. Let Him transform you, even when formation process is uncomfortable or takes a lot of time.