Reluctant Retiree

When I watch sports, live or on television, I like to watch the sidelines. It gives me some understanding of the team dynamics. I look for players that are left alone without much interaction with others, players who walk up and down the sidelines trying to inspire teammates, those rejoicing with an outstanding play, and those dejected with failures.

I Thessalonians 5:14 says, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” Sometimes we feel tired, weak and defeated, excluded from the action and sitting on the sidelines. At those times we need encouragement, patience and help. At other times we are the ones who can provide the encouragement, patience and help to others, inspiring them to join the action and give their best.

Hearsay is something that we hear from someone that we can’t adequately validate. Gossip is casual or unconstrained conversation about others. Innuendo is a disparaging or suggestive remark or hint about someone. As you can see we have all sorts of ways of communicating falsehoods or misleading information.

Matthew 10:27 says, “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” Jesus is telling His disciples that they can confidently speak what they hear from Him. God is the source of all truth, wisdom and knowledge. His Word is light and life.

Don’t be afraid to speak what God is telling you and what you have learned from His Word. It will be a source of light to others, drawing them closer to God. We can be confident in speaking the truth out of love for others and for God.

When the doctor prescribes medicine for us, the drugs can only do their healing work if we use the drugs as intended. If we were to get a new car, we must take care of it to preserve its usefulness. Electronics must be used as intended or we will quickly find ourselves discarding as useless.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, your body has been purchased by the blood of Jesus and is undergoing an extreme makeover by the new owner, the Holy Spirit. Use your body in accordance with the new owner’s wishes and to bring Him honor.

If you are not yet a believer in Jesus Christ, you have this opportunity to use your body, mind, spirit, heart and soul for a higher purpose. Simply trust Him to save and redeem you and He will begin the makeover of your life.

Psalm 24:3-5 says, “Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

God sets the terms for drawing near to Him. Every day and each time we, believers and repentant nonbelievers, want to draw near to God, we should ask Him first to cleanse us from our sins and purify our hearts. He has made provision to do these things through the blood of Jesus.

Psalm 103:1-5 says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,  who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,  who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

We can set our attitudes in the right direction each morning by simply remembering to give thanks. Rather than beginning the day by thinking of all the things we have to do, we can remember to praise God for His blessings. Some of those blessings are listed in these verses like forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, mercy and goodness. Of course, there is so much more that we should be grateful for and help us begin the day positively and in the proper frame of mind.