Reluctant Retiree

My wife has much more confidence than I when it comes to speaking to others. I am often clumsy in speech and can make the ensuing conversation awkward. My wife, on the other hand, can speak to others with ease and even make requests that I would never have the boldness to make. So when we need a business to do something for us, it is always better if my wife does the talking.

I John 5:14-15 says, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

The believer in Jesus Christ can have confidence in coming before God’s throne in prayer. This confidence is born in the knowledge of God’s love and grace. We are convinced that He listens to our prayers and acts upon them. In fact, the Bible declares that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, actually leads us to God’s throne in prayer and is our Advocate and Intercessor. When God’s Son speaks, the Father listens.

I have spent most of my life trying to fit in with those around me. Recently, I have come to the conclusion that this objective is futile. I am hopelessly different than others. But that is more than just Okay. The Bible tells me that I am fearfully and wonderfully created by God by His design and for His purposes. The only person that I need to fit in with is God Himself.

Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Noah stood out from those around him and not just by building a huge boat. God considered Noah to be righteous, while at the same time God condemned the world around him for being evil in their every thought. Noah was willing to endure the ridicule of the world, to receive the favor of God, thereby saving his whole family from the coming flood.We can’t make a positive difference in the world without being positively different from the world.

We must not be concerned with fitting in with the world, but rather standing out for Jesus Christ. Then, we too will receive the rewards God has in store for us. The world around us wants us to conform to their thinking and condemns us whenever we deviate from their norms. But standing out for the truth reaps greater benefits and protects ourselves and our households from evil.

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” I John 3:17-18

“I love you!”. Three little words with a world of impact. But these words can be shallow and empty at times. When our words do not match our actions, our words loose their impact.

God has given us a great and amazing love, by giving His only Son to die for us and take on the just punishment for our sins. His love is steadfast, abundant and eternal. God demonstrated His love by giving His Son. He loves us, and expects us to love others in the same way. That means that our actions must display love. One way to do that is when we see someone with legitimate needs and we are moved by love to help. We gave give what we can and we can do what we can to help, thereby demonstrating real love.

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. An everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” I John 3:2-3

Christians are not perfect people. We make mistakes and sometimes even sin. But we are people who are growing and maturing in our faith. When we first believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, it was through childlike faith that we became His children. As we mature in the faith, we seek to become more like Jesus. Our goal is purity, just as He is pure. This becomes our desire because we love Him because He first loved us. When Jesus returns for us, we will become instantly like Him, just by seeing Him.

Have you ever walked with someone in the dark? It can be so dark that you have to maintain physical contact to make sure that you are still together. Otherwise, you can become separated and even begin to go in different directions. Sometimes we all need a guide or counselor to help us through the dark places in our lives.

I John 2:10 says, “Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.” The key to walking with God in the light is love. When we love God and love others the Scripture teaches us that we are close to God, maintaining contact with Him, even in the hard places of life. Then we are walking in the secure steps of righteousness with a loving Father.