Reluctant Retiree

The artist completes a painting to his own satisfaction, but moves on to a new work of art. The songwriter finishes writing a song, but hears a new melody in his heart that urges him to write again. The craftsman looks upon his recently completed woodwork with pride, but soon embarks on a new project.

John 19:30 says, “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Unlike the artist, songwriter, and craftsman, Jesus completed the work that He came to earth to do. He did all that was necessary to provide salvation and redemption for us. Nothing was left undone and nothing more could be added. He had taken human form, suffered at the hands of the religious elite, taken upon himself all the sins of man and God’s wrath against sin, and sacrificed himself on the cross. It was finished and He gave up His spirit.

Our response is all that remains. Will we accept His completed work, trusting Him for salvation and redemption, or will we reject His sacrifice?

If I tried to lift 500 pounds, I would fail miserably. I simply do not have the strength to accomplish such a feat. If I tried to run a marathon, again I would fail. I haven’t built up the endurance to run such a long distance. If I tried to throw a football 50 yards, it would come up well short of this goal. Although I try to do the right thing almost all the time, I come up short in my own efforts.

Mark 14:38 explains this conundrum, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Consistently walking in the path of righteousness cannot be done in our own strength. We simply need the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives to be able to walk according to God’s design. We must continually pray for God’s wisdom and remain vigilantly alert to temptation, in order to resist.

What is the most important thing that you know and believe? Do you know some state secret? Do you have the cure for some disease? Perhaps you know the key to solving some major problem. Maybe you have information that would help your friend facing a crisis.

From time to time the religious leaders of Jesus’s day would try to trip Him up by asking trick questions. Of course, Jesus saw right through the questions to their wicked self-serving hearts.

One day they asked Jesus about the greatest commandment. Mark 12:29 records Jesus’s response: “Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, ‘Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”” God, through Jesus, is telling us that the most important thing that we can know and believe is that there is only one God. And He expects us to love Him completely. When we believe this truth and love Him fully, this life can be lived to its fullest measure and we receive salvation, redemption, and eternal life.

Begin the journey of faith today by acknowledging the one true God and submitting your full love to Him.

We are in Northern California now and are experiencing the effects of something called an “atmospheric river.” That basically means that it is raining, a lot. Rivers and canals are nearly full of rapidly flowing waters. Highways are flooded and even swimming pools are overflowing. Lives are impacted by the conditions, but so far I have not heard of injuries.

Psalm 68:7-8 says, “Oh God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.” I don’t know what God is saying to us through this storm, but I do know that He is capable of moving heaven and earth to accomplish His purposes. Nothing can, or will, stand in the way of God’s plans. If necessary, He will cause downpours and earthquakes to enforce His will. So He can answer our prayers and help us when we need Him.

“I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.” Psalm 7:17

According to Oxford Languages, the word “most” means greatest in amount, quantity, or degree. “Most” forms the superlative of adjectives and adverbs. So, when the Bible calls God the Most High, He is declared to be supreme, incomparable, majestic above all things, and glorious. No power can even approach His. No authority can challenge Him. He is unstoppable, immovable, unchangeable, and indescribable. He is the Uncreated One, who Himself has created all things. He is the giver and sustainer of all life.