Reluctant Retiree

Hosea 14:4 says, “I will love them freely.” When was the last time that you received something that was truly free. I would wager that you have rarely, if ever, received a truly free gift. Almost everything is given to us and by us with some hidden expectation of return. Businesses give something free to clients and prospects with the expectation of future compensation. Friends and family give gifts with the expectation of feeling good, return gifting, or increased closeness in the relationship. We even do favors or good deeds for people with the same expectations of return.

All of this makes God’s promise of freely given love to us all the more remarkable. It means that no prayers, no tears, no good works, and no sacrifices will make God love us more. But it also means that nothing we will ever do will make Him love us less. He loves us simply because He chooses to love us. He doesn’t wait to love us until we somehow become loveable, because we can never achieve such a standing. He doesn’t wait to love us until we do certain religious or moral works, because we cannot become good enough to deserve His love. God loves you and me freely. He is not expecting anything from us, before He loves us. He chose to love us before the creation of the world. He simply loves us because He chooses to love us.

How will we respond to this type of love? Will we choose to ignore it and continue to live as though He doesn’t love us? Or will we respond with thanksgiving and praise, choosing to follow Him as our loving Savior and Redeemer?

We are spending a few days in Fort Lauderdale. Since I grew up near the beach in Southern California, I have always enjoyed being near the water. The vastness of the ocean reminds me of my unlimited God. The sounds of the waves give me a certain peace that I don’t find in other locations, although I love the beauty of nature everywhere. The beach can also be dangerous. When the waves are high and rough, tossed around by the wind, you can be pulled in directions you do not want to go.

Doubt causes us to be tossed about and taken in directions we don’t want to go. We may hear God lead us in one direction, but because we doubt His love, we go a different path. Then we find that God’s way was better and we are suffering in the place we find ourselves. Or we may ask God for something that is good, but we doubt His ability to give us this good thing. So we fail to draw upon His wisdom.

We are commanded to ask God for wisdom. But then we are given this warning in James 1:6, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” Faith and doubt cannot coexist at the same time. Speak to God in faith. He is always good. He will do the good thing that you request because He is also always able.

I confess that I have been rather irritable lately. Every little thing brings a sharp criticism or outburst of anger. I have hurt others, especially those who are close to me. I am not proud of my attitudes and behaviors lately. I seem to be bringing a dark cloud with me and making sure others are caught up in my gloom.

A local hotel has a sign out front which reads, “Whatever the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” It is a nice sentiment, but not realistic to just be happy all the time, no matter the circumstances.

Jesus had a better plan in mind when He said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Any light you may generate by trying to have a good attitude is inferior to the light that He can give us. When we allow God to live through us and bear the fruit of good works, then we are living a life that produces good and gives glory to God. Don’t settle for your own meager sunshine, give God the opportunity to let His far greater light of the Son Shine brighten the world around you.

Waiting for the cars in front of you to begin moving after the light turns green, only to miss making it through the light due to their slow movement. Or how about arriving back in the United States after a long flight, only to find long lines at Immigration and Customs. Then there is standing in line at the grocery store while a customer in front of you decides to have an extended casual conversation with the clerk while you are in a hurry. I don’t know about you, but these types of situations raise my red hot impatience level several degrees. I seem to always be in such a hurry that minor delays cause major irritation.

We can’t make ourselves be patient. Just the effort and intestinal fortitude it takes to become patient counteracts the idea of being patient. Let’s face it, we don’t have the inner strength to always be patient with others.

Colossians 1:11 says, “being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” The power to be patient comes from God. He will supply it to us by His glorious might. We can’t stir it up from our own willpower, but God has a ready supply of power to give us patience.

So the next time you feel your impatience thermometer rising, let go of the struggle and ask God to demonstrate His glorious might by giving you patience.

Peace! An easy slogan to say or put on a bumper sticker, but a very hard thing to achieve. We want peace in our world, but war in some part of the war is a constant threat or reality. We want peace in our workplaces, but infighting occurs daily, it seems. We want peace in our homes, but selfishness rears its ugly head far too often.

Unrest, fear, worry, and anxiety do not come from God. He opposes these negative feelings and overcomes them by the power of His truth and might. II Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.”

If we will put aside these negative thoughts and feelings, and trust God to overcome them, then He promises to give us peace. His peace is available to us at all times and in every way. Struggles and problems will come our way, but God Almighty can and will overcome them.

We went to our grandson’s high school football game last night. They were playing a team ranked higher than them. The game started well and our grandson’s team held a lead late in the first quarter. They were playing really well. But, alas, they fell victim to bad habits and old weaknesses. Sadly they lost the game by a large margin.

We all do the same sort of thing. We resolve to do better in a certain area and do really well for a period of time. Then old bad habits or attitudes creep back in and soon we are defeated again.

We don’t need to continue living in the cycle of short-term victory and the mire of defeat. Jesus promised to give us victory over bad habits, attitudes and behavior. God meant for us to live in the victory that He has provided through Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Give your personal struggles with bad attitudes and behaviors to Jesus. Let Him pull you up and out of the miry clay of defeat. Let Him give you victory in the power of His Holy Spirit.