Reluctant Retiree

How much of our day is spent doing things when our heart is not really into it? Some things we do out of routine and without really thinking about it. Other things we do because they have to be done rather than because we want to do it. And yet some other things we do because someone else told us to do them. How sad it is that we not always actively doing what we truly desire and think is best! It is particularly sad when we do religious things out of routine or compulsion.

Mark 7:6-7 says, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” God is more concerned with your heart than He is with what you do or say. Make sure your heart stays close to God for that is the way to truly honor Him. A heart that is close to God is a heart at peace and one that will bear fruit in joy.

We all deal with authority on a daily basis. Whether it be parents, bosses, police, or government, we come in frequent contact with various levels of authority. We choose whether we will obey their directives or possibly risk suffering consequences of disobedience.

Jude 24-25 says, “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will blamelessly and joyously stand before God someday, because He saved us. He has always had all authority in heaven and on earth, as He does also have now, and forever will possess all sovereign authority. We must choose whether we will submit to that authority or suffer the consequences.

Most of us enjoy telling stories to others. Some are true. Some are exaggerated. And some are not so true. The stories that I enjoy hearing the most are the ones about what has truly happened in another person’s life. I once went on a carriage ride in Ireland. I can honestly say that I have never met anyone who enjoyed telling stories as much as this gentleman. Pick any subject or ask any question and he was ready to tell a story. It was a lot of fun listening to him.

In Mark 5:24-25 Jesus speaks to a man whom He had just healed: “‘Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had dne for him, and everyone marveled.” Everyone who believes in Jesus has a story to tell of what the Lord has done for them. Tell your story and do not be afraid, because no one can honestly dispute your story.

When we seek out instruction on how to do something, we must pay attention to the information given to us. If we fail to listen and follow the instructions, we will most likely not succeed in what we are trying to learn to do.

Mark 4:24-25 says, “And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from he one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.'” We must listen to what God says in His Word and apply it to our lives in order to receive all the blessings God has for us. If we fail to follow His instructions for life, we will likely miss out on some of the blessings He has for us.

In our culture, there are many ways to become someone’s child. Of course, the most common is through natural childbirth. But an adopted child is no less of a child of his/her parents than one through a natural childbirth. They have all the rights, privileges, love and caring of other children.

John 1:12-13 says, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Those who trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord become His children. And as our Heavenly Father, God loves each of us with an everlasting and abundant love, deeply caring for us. As His child we have all the rights, privileges, love and inheritance of everyone in His family.