Reluctant Retiree

We live in a senior community, so it is not unusual for us to observe those who have recently lost a loved one. The grief they share is natural and an expression of love for the departed. We, ourselves, experienced this grief recently with the loss of a beloved aunt.

In our lives we experience two types of grief, some good and some bad. II Corinthians 7:10 describes these types of griefs as it says, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. Godly grief overtakes us after we sin and experience the remorse of leaving God’s approval. It is good in that godly grief motivates us to leave our sin behind and return to God.

Worldly grief is also remorse, but it is remorse at losing the world’s approval. This grief produces death as it causes us to seek the world’s approval, as opposed to God’s approval. It knows no limits as far as doing anything we can to gain the world’s approval. We will exercise our pride, arrogance, and greed to garner the attention of others.

Whose approval do you most seek? Are you motivated by worldly grief to seek the approval of men? Or are you motivated by godly grief to forsake sin and follow God?

Sometimes we miss opportunities simply because it is not the right time for us. Sometimes we can’t do what we want to do because we are not in the right place. It can be frustrating to lose out on good opportunities because these circumstances prohibit our participation.

God offers us opportunities for which there are no wrong places or times. Corinthians 6:2-3 says, “For he says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” In God’s heart it is always a favorable time for Him to listen to you, so talk to Him. In God’s mercy, it is always the day of salvation for Him to help you, so trust Him. Whatever you are going through today, don’t miss the opportunity to talk with God and trust Him, because He will listen and He will help you.

One Christmas we bought our sons remote control cars. As was my custom, I had to make sure the toys worked before Christmas. So I took the cars across the street to a church parking lot. I used the remote control to make the cars speed through my imaginary race course. It was fun but I didn’t play too long on the chance that I would damage the cars. The boys enjoyed the cars immensely.

What if the remote controlled cars started to ignore the radio signal directing them? What if the cars decided it would be more fun to speed through their own course? What if your television decided to ignore the remote control and show the program that it wanted to show instead of the one that you directed it to show? In both cases, chaos would ensue. The cars and television would be out of control and not fulfilling the purpose for which they were created.

People do the same thing as these out of control devices. God has created each of us with a specific purpose in mind. Through His grace He has made salvation available for everyone. But we think we have a better way, so we ignore His direction to run our own course. Just like for the devices, chaos ensues and we become lost in our own desires.

Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” Paul directed Titus to allow God to lead him in righteous and godly living, staying under God’s direction and forsaking old desires to go his own way.

Let’s turn away from the desire to run our own course, by staying under the direction of the author of life and salvation.

What kind of person do you enjoy being around? Is it the complainer who finds something wrong with everything? Or is it more pleasant to be near the person who seems to perpetually be grateful? Personally I prefer the grateful person, even though I can be a complainer myself at times. The grateful person possesses a positive attitude that rubs off onto others. They help keep my perspective true.

Ephesians 5:20 says, “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” As believers in Jesus Christ, we know that God is sovereign over all things. We also know that He is good, working all things together for our good. Therefore we can trust Him in every circumstance, including times of suffering, to act according to His good purpose.

If we find ourselves complaining, then we know that we are out of fellowship with Jesus. We will need to confess our sin and return to gratefulness. I pray that God will remove complaining lips and hearts from us all as He reminds us of all that He has done for us.

Governments appoint ambassadors as their representatives to various nations. The ambassador is chosen and sent with the authority to speak for his or her government. This person should not speak and work on his/her own behalf, but rather express the government’s will and best interests.

Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ have also been appointed as His ambassadors. Our royal appointment comes from the King of kings. In John 15:16 Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Jesus has called and appointed believers to be His ambassadors to the world. We must represent His will and purpose faithfully to honor His name. We are to speak the words that He gives us. To give us power in support of our appointment, we are given direct access to the Father, along with the promise that the Father will give us the power.

Jesus is calling you to His royal service. Are you ready to faithfully serve the King of kings?