Reluctant Retiree

These days people have become experts at creating large followings. Many use social media to create such a huge group of followers. These use social media to sell things, promote their so called expertise, give out advice or interesting information. or just stir emotions. They have become experts at self promotion, but many have stooped to the lowest levels of morality to do so and have thus created a following that will not serve to benefit anyone.

Isaiah 60:22 says, “The smallest family will multiply into a large clan. The tiniest group will become a mighty nation. I, the Lord, will bring it to pass at the right time.” God can use a single person, like you, to build a great multitude of His followers. If you let Him, He will do this again through you at the right time. It will come about through His power and will bring great benefits to those who are attracted to His mighty nation of followers.

When learning a new skill we should gather the best resources available to us. The owner’s manual provides detailed information on how something is put together and how to use it to its best potential. Wise counselors lead us to resolution of problems through understanding of their sources and the best ways to address our needs. Using anything but the best resources can lead us astray and cause damage.

Romans 16:19 says, “For your obedience is know to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” God has made the best resources available to us to live righteously and avoid the pitfalls of evil. He has given us His Word which is profitable to teaching us, correcting us, reproving us and for training us in righteousness. He has given His Spirit to those who believe. His Spirit resides within the believer to guide, teach, comfort and heal brokenness. We must continue to use these resources for what is good and do not learn the ways of evil. Then our lives will be light for others and praise to the Father.

Yesterday I was walking through a grocery store when my shoe stuck on the tile and I fell to the ground. At first I felt pain in my elbow, but as we continued walking through the store, I began to feel pain in my hip and my knee. Now all of these pains were minor and no real damage appears to have been done, except to my fragile ego. Today promises to be different as our four year old granddaughter is coming to our house for the day. So today will involve playing and lots of laughter.

It occurs to me that life is a lot like these two days. Sometimes one thing after another goes wrong. But then there are times when everything seems to be going well.

Isaiah 25:8 says, “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.” I don’t know everything about heaven, but it is enough for me now to know that I will be with Jesus forever and their will be no more suffering or tears. When I go to be with Jesus, He will fulfill His promise to remove all suffering, pain, troubles, and tears. Instead, I will spend my days celebrating His presence and His love. All I can say is “Thank you, Jesus!” and all I know is how much I look forward to eternity with Him.

God calls us to love Him with understanding. To love with understanding casts off the things that harm the relationship like selfishness, lust, fear, worry, and anger. To love with understanding is to love with patience, kindness, mercy, grace and trust.

In Mark 12:33 Jesus tells us what is most important; “And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” To love God with understanding is to have insight and good judgement. Understanding defeats worry, fear, selfishness, lust, and anger. Loving God requires that we trust in His love for us and His goodness.

I am not talented or knowledgeable in anything mechanical. I cannot do household or automobile repairs. Whenever I try even the most simple task around the house, I need help. I need someone to come alongside me and offer advice as well as technical skill.

John 14:16-17 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.” To the believer God has given us the Holy Spirit to live within us and He is our Helper. When we try to do the job that the Helper does best and has come to do for us, we become anxious and filled with worry or fear. Our Helper eagerly desires to offer us the guidance and wisdom to do what we are setting out to do. Furthermore, when we trust the Helper we will bear fruit in good works.