Reluctant Retiree

Jesus didn’t claim to be a good teacher. He didn’t claim to simply live a model life. He is not someone for whom it is required to just follow His lifestyle or teaching.

Mark 14:61-62 says, “Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'” Jesus claimed to be the Christ and Son of God. We must accept that truth and live accordingly or reject Him. One day we will all see Him coming in the clouds and seated at the right hand of the Father. We must worship Him as the God He is and surrender ourselves to His will.

God gives His children the gift of prayer. He invites us into His presence and tells us to give Him our requests. Furthermore, Jesus goes before us into the presence of the Father and is our High Priest. Jesus intercedes for us with our requests and He advocates for us when we confess our sins. In addition, the Father has given to us the Holy Spirit to intercede with words we cannot utter. Prayer is a gift from the Father and we are told to pray unceasingly.

Before going to the cross, Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:36 When going through difficulties, it is good to ask for God’s help. But always be open to following God’s will no matter what happens, because that will turn out for the best. God is good and He is able to answer our prayers. Take advantage of the gift of prayer.

In His final days Jesus gave His disciples very specific instructions. Though these instructions were simple, they seemed unbelievable. Jesus told them to go into the city. He said that they would find a man who was carrying a jar of water. They should follow this man and speak to the master of the house asking him to show them a room for the disciples and Jesus to eat the Passover meal. Jesus said that the man will show them a large upper room furnished and ready for them.

Mark 14:16 says, “And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.” This was not an unusual occurrence for the disciples. Jesus often gave them simple, but very specific instructions. And they always found that the circumstances and events were exactly as Jesus had told them.

Test God’s Word and you will find that everything will be just as He has told you. His promises remain true today just as they were when they were recorded hundreds of years ago. The truths are fixed by God and will never change. Salvation and redemption can be yours by trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

I live in a rural agricultural area, but I know little about growing and harvesting crops. I do know that good soil is required to produce the best quality and most abundant crops. Without good soil to receive and pass on nourishment, seeds cannot produce the fruits intended by the farmers.

Luke 8:15 says, “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” When God seeks to plant His Word in you, receive it with a good and honest heart. He promises that you will then bear the fruit of godliness and goodness if you do so patiently.

I often hear people ask God for wisdom when they pray. The problem comes with what we do after we pray. Do you move ahead with a decision and actions or do we wait for the wisdom we requested and for God to move ahead of us? Faith means that we wait upon God for wisdom and answers to prayer. God promises that we we do wait in faith He will do awesome things.

Isaiah 64:3-4 says, “When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” Our God does awesome works on our behalf, even works that we cannot see. All we need to do is ask and wait for Him to move, which is faith.